South America - Page 22

Olga Rumyantseva, guide of the 7 Peaks Club from Bolivia:  The program of the new group of the 7 Summits Club in Bolivia has begun. Today our team "HolaTeam" got acquainted with the sights of La Paz. We started our tour with a place called "Moon Valley".  In La Paz, there are unusually few tourists, so all the museums are mostly closed. But there are a lot of people on the streets. Music is playing, everyone is walking. After the Moon Valley, we visited the historical part of the city. Then we went to the local market, where they sell vegetables and fruits, and to the witch market, where they sell various potions.

Lyudmila Korobeshko the leader of the group: 

Hello everyone from Colombia! Last night we took a walk in the Tayrona National Park. We fed monkeys and iguanas, swam in the bays, dived and enjoyed the views. We arrived in Bogota late last night. We're flying home today. We really liked the country. Goodbye, Colombia! See you again!

After a successful ascent on the Tolima volcano, the team "Colombia Pictures" visited a unique object – the "Lost city" in the jungle of the Sierra de Santa Marta in northern Colombia.

Lyudmila Korobeshko the leader of the group:  Hello everyone from Colombia! Yesterday, our “Colombia Pictures” team successfully climbed  the summit of Tolima volcano with a height of 5220m. It was unforgettable!

A very beautiful peak! The ascent turned out to be diverse. You start with the jungle, then go through the paramo (high-altitude swamps), then moraines and end up in the glacier zone.

We were very lucky with the weather. On the night of the assault, it was warm and windless. We passed the dangerous rock section quickly with belay. And when we went out on the glacier, the dawn began and the views were stunning.  We were very impressed with the smoking active volcano Ruiz. At the top, we took a lot of photos and even almost made a landslide, jumping too much for the summit photo.

Today we went down to the beautiful green valley of Cocora with the tallest palm trees in the world. We are resting and preparing for a flight to the Caribbean coast, where we are waiting for a trek to the Lost City.

Lyudmila Korobeshko, director of the 7 Summits Club and group guide, from Colombia:

Hello everyone from Colombia! We go to the Los Nevados Mountains. We will climb the Tolima volcano. Along the way, we plan to see the highest active volcano in Colombia - Ruiz. Colombia is a country that resembles paradise!

Lyudmila Korobeshko:  Hello everyone from Colombia! This is Lyudmila Korobeshko. Our large and friendly group called “Colombia Pictures” gathered today in the capital of Colombia - Bogota. And immediately we had to pass the first quest – how to get to the hotel, which is located in the historical center. It turns out that Colombians are big fans of sports and outdoor activities. On Sundays, the city center is closed, and hundreds of cyclists and marathon runners rush through the streets. So we had to walk the last 500 m to the hotel. We even liked it. So, until the evening, we continued to walk around the city, even climbed Mount Montserrat. We visited almost all the graffiti, tried the chicha and ajiaco. We also took a cable car ride over the nighttime favelas of the southern outskirts of Bogota.

Thanks to our wonderful guide to Bogota - Tatiana Nechaeva!

Tomorrow we fly to the coffee plantations!

Artem Rostovtsev, guide of the 7 Summits Club from Chile, by audio message:

Hello! This is Chile, Atacama, Laguna Verde, Artem Rostovtsev with yesterday's news. The six of us climbed on the top of the Ojos del Salado volcano. It was cold, windy, snowy, and difficult. But we did it! Congratulations to all of us, and please be happy for us! The most important thing that I forgot to report in the previous news: our team is called "High-altitude Gourmets". We try to restrain ourselves in terms of food. But that's not possible. As our chef Lena cooks, it is impossible to resist. Once again, I report: the expedition is completed successfully, we have reached the top. Today we are getting out into civilization.

Artem Rostovtsev, guide of the 7 Summits Club from Chile, audio message: Hello, Seven Summits Club! This is Artem Rostovtsev, from the expedition on Ojos del Salado, the third this season. We haven't been in touch for a few days, so I'll quickly tell you what happened. Everything went smoothly and according to plan. We moved to Laguna Verde.  Then we climbed San Francisco volcano, by the whole group. Yesterday, we went up to the Tejos refuge, and then went for a walk on the 6400. And already we have all the acclimatization rotation exits ended. There are two days left to rest, even a little less, before our most important, decisive climb on the top of Ojos del Salado. Every members feel great, the weather is favorable for us. So we hope that I will return to you again in two days with good news. Artem Rostovtsev, Atacama desert, Chile, Ojos del Salado expedition.

Artem Rostovtsev, guide of the 7 Summits Club from Chile:

Greetings from Atacama! The group of climbers on Ojos del Salado continues its upward movement towards the intended goal. Today we walked along the slopes of the Сopiapo volcano, and in the meantime reached a new level -  a height of 5300m. Thus, we acclimatize. The wind has subsided slightly, the weather can be called good.

Artem Rostovtsev, the 7 Summits Club guide from Chile:

The third expedition on Ojos del Salado of the 7 Summits Club has started. With all these quarantines, frightening weather forecasts and flight postponements, we got off to an active start. The team members took a quick look at the ocean and immediately drove to the Santa Rosa lagoon, to our favorite flamingos. We have already spent the night here, at an altitude of 3780 meters, quite calm. Thus, we begin to acclimatize to higher altitudes.

On January 27, 16 members of the 7 Summits Club's Ojos del Salado expedition climbed on the summit. There was a lot of snow. The temperature dropped to -17 degrees. The wind was a hurricane all the days. But we caught the weather window. The ascent lasted 16 hours. We went down in the evening. But before that, the weather rewarded us with gorgeous views of the sunset.

Artem Rostovtsev, guide of the 7 Summits Club from Chile (from audio message): Hello, Seven Summits Club! This is Artem Rostovtsev, from Atacama. Yesterday we climbed on the top of Ojos del Salado, finally reaching the goal of our expedition. Almost the entire team has been on the top, with the exception of a couple of person. The weather was more or less favorable. A little snow has covered the last part  of the group. In general, everything went well. We've already spent the night at the Laguna Verde camp. All the members have recovered, everyone is happy. Now we will move to the ocean. Once again: the goal of the expedition was achieved, the team visited the summit of Ojos del Salado almost in full complement.

Artem Rostovtsev, guide of the 7 Summits Club from Chile, audio message: Hello, Seven Summits Club! This is Artem Rostovtsev, from the heart of Atacama, the Atacama Desert. We are currently in a camp on Laguna Verde. The expedition on Ojos del Salado continues. Yesterday we went up to 6400. This was the final acclimatization  rotation exit. Then we spent the night near the Tejas shelter at 5900. Not all the climbers were able to sleep, but that was our plan. It is good to acclimatize at this altitude.

We recently went down to Laguna Verde, just a couple of hours ago . Now we have a day of rest ahead of us before climbing directly on the top of Ojos del Salado. So far, the weather is not very good, but on the day of the ascent, they promise what we need for our, hopefully, successful ascent. All members of the expedition feel great. We are waiting for the most important day, the day of climbing the summit.

Alex Abramov from Chile: Today, our Anti-Quarantine team, all 19 people, made an ascent on Mount San Francisco, 6018 meters. The weather has prepared a surprise for us: a blizzard and a thunderstorm with lightning. Bad weather caught us right on the top, and we lay on the snow for 30 minutes. There was a very strong static tension here. Sticks, backpacks, iron - all of these we threw away and prayed. Emotions were over the edge. And we left, too, in a blizzard. Then everything calmed down, the sun came out and beautiful scenery opened up.

Alex Abramov from Chile: The team of the 7 Summits Club “Anti-Quarantine” in Chile continues the program of climbing Ojos del Salado. Today there was a fantastic day. In the morning, we left our camp at Laguna Santa Rosa and drove towards the Ojos Base Camp. On the way, we stopped at the waterfall and reached the Atacama Camp 5100m. And then we also climbed to the height of Elbrus+ - 5700m. It was excellent acclimatization. On the way back, we stopped at Laguna Verde and celebrated the Epiphany with a massive swim in the hot springs. It was really a Fantastic day!

Alex Abramov from Chile: Today our friendly team "Anti-quarantine" spends the first night on Laguna Santa Rosa. We are 20 people and we have a lot of fun! Awesome views. Today we climbed to the top of Mount "Seven Brothers", 4815m. There was a strong wind. On the descent, they found that one of the 5 cars had a broken wheel. Replaced. Lena cooks excellent food with seafood. We saw foxes, flamingos, alpacas and giant hares.

Tomorrow is the feast of Epiphany. We'll go swimming in the hot springs on Laguna Verde. In parallel, we go to acclimatize climbing Mulas Muertas! Everyone feels great!

Alex Abramov from Chile: On January 16, we met at the airport and celebrated my birthday in the evening! In particular, we raised a toast for the ascent on K2. Today, January 17, our friendly team moved to Laguna Santa Rosa. There we plan to carry out our quarantine in Chile. We will walk in the surrounding hills.

The Atacama is very beautiful. Today we were met by wind and rain. On said that was the first rain for in 500 years.

Artem Rostovtsev, guide of the 7 Summits Club from Chile (message from 14.01.2021):

Hello, the Seven Summits Club! In touch with Chile, Atacama, Ojos del Salado volcano, summit. We are now direct on the summit, starting the descent. Today we started at midnight. 8 people reached the top. Tomorrow we will write more details. Yesterday's day of rest went well, today's ascent is also excellent. Greetings from the top of Ojos del Salado!

News from Ecuador. Viktor Zelentsov and Alexander Nikitsky with their guide Edgar Parra climbed Chimborazo (6310 m) – the peak farthest from the center of the Earth. Congratulations!

Artem Rostovtsev, guide of the 7 Summits Club, from Chile: News from the expedition on Ojos del Salado in. Today there was an important day of our acclimatization. We climbed the San Francisco volcano, 6016 meters above sea level. 9 people reached the top. Thus, we have earned a quality rest tomorrow. And also the group pleased the guide on his birthday!

News from Ecuador from Viktor Zelentsov, Alexander Nikitsky and their guide Edgar Parra. The team climbed the mountain of Ilinitsa Norte (5126 m)! The program continues!