South America - Page 36

This Saturday 26 December our group gathered in the center of the world - Quito, Ecuador's capital, by the way at 2800.

Today, December 27, we had a very busy day: went up to a height of 4000 meters for acclimatization and admiring views of the city. Then we strolled through the historic center of Quito (which, incidentally, is one of the first cities was declared a monument of UNESCO), visited a great many different cathedrals and churches. Especially noteworthy are two: the highest mountain in the Catholic Church of 4000, located precisely on the line of the Equator.

Of course, we visited the museum of the equator, where he participated in several demonstrations to prove that we are exactly on the equator. However, one experience, we have recognized the false, and even found the secret.

Now we pack things and tomorrow are advancing toward our first top - Pasachoa, 4200.

Have a good mood!

Best regards, Ludmila Korobeshko

The 7 Summits Club guide Sergey Larin sent photos from the ascent to Aconcagua. On the top there were: Alexander Tertychnyi, Dmitry Tertychnyi (14 years) and guide Sergey Larin

Hi Seven Summits Club! Today, all members of our small expedition of three men climbed Mount Aconcagua. Remarkably, in the expedition there was a 14-year-old boy from Russia - it is the record for age. But climbing was given to us is not easy. The climb took 12 hours. But it ended okay, now we are in Berlin, in the camp, resting. And we went down just on 2 and a half hours ... all are alive and well, more details - on this later. So long! Sergei Larin.

Members: Alexander Tertychny father, Dmitry Tertychnyi son - 14 years, guide Sergey Larin.

All turned out as always spontaneously. We just took a bus in Mendoza and went to Copiapo. Just to kill time, since before the plane there was five days. In Copiapo, we hired a pickup and decided to try to go to Ojos. Ojos del Salado - is the highest volcano in South America and the world.

So we got into the car and drove to the Atacama Desert. I do not drive a car, and Xenia has no experience of driving an SUV, but we are not scared. In the evening, courageously overcome all difficulties off-road, we were in the high-altitude camp "Atacama" at an altitude of 5200. It is 5 am when we began to climb to the top. The weather was clear but very windy. In Elbrus in such wind, I would not be led, to be honest. I do not know when exactly – at 2 p.m., perhaps, we were "standing" on the top.

Then there was a rapid descent. After resting for five minutes on foot, Xu sat behind the wheel of our car, and we rushed to the Laguna Verde, warm up in the hot springs. The next day we traveled through the neighborhood, stopping at various places of interest. We visited the lakes, waterfalls, gorges, salt marshes, seeing the wild flamingos. I was struck by the beauty and abundance of colors of the desert. This is my first meeting with this desert, but I hope not the last.

Now we're sitting at the airport waiting for the plane of Oxana. Today she flies home, and I stay in Chile. No exact plan as usual there, just go to the south. What will come of this? Wait and see...

Sergei Larin, a guide of the 7 Summits Club: Welcome Seven Summits! Shower in Plaza de Mulas costs $ 10. 15 minutes of bad working of the Internet and two cans of beer are also $ 10. But after three days of acclimatization in Nido de Condores at 5500, all that we have to use. As you understood, we went down from an acclimatization outing to rest. All is going along the plan.

Hello, Seven Summits! Get information on Aconcagua. We are OK, we are working on a plan, getting acclimatization for the standard version. Yesterday we spent the night at the Plaza Canada, today we climbed to Nido de Condores. All members are in good conditions. What is proved by two facts. First, we were ahead of the porters. And second, now while the water is boiled, members read the literature. That is, everything is fine, everything is going according to the plan. So long! Sergei Larin.

Hello everybody! It is Vladimir Kotlyar, Climb Aconcagua program. Today I and Oksana went to the top of the highest point in South America. It was cold, but windless. We caught the weather window, it is cool. We climbed up for 5 hours - rather quickly. We are now in the Plaza de Mulas, you could not believe it ... we sit, eat pizza, drink beer. And now, here we met Sergei Larin, in general, we celebrate our climb. Adios! Until we meet again in January. All the best!

Hello! It is Vladimir Kotlyar from Aconcagua. Our climbing partners have decided to fly home for personal reasons. They flew in a helicopter. And we've got two. Here, unfortunately. But we did not finish the expedition ... Now we sit down in Plaza de Mulas, at an altitude of 4300 and expected weather. We've got sweeps, the blizzard. The wind is very strong at the top. On top along the weather forecast the wind is now 70-75 ... We will be waiting for the weather and go upstairs. Adios! All the best!

Hello! This is Vladimir Kotlyar, the guide of the 7 Summits Club on the expedition to Aconcagua. Today our friendly team climbed up for the first high-altitude camp at an altitude, it is Plaza Canada at 4800 meters. Our goal is to spend the night for better acclimatization and gradual, step-up recovery. We went fast - 3 hours, set up tents, have dinner. And now we have a rest, to boil water, drown snow. In general, we collect water for the evening and for the morning.

Today we have snow, blizzard, snowstorm. But never mind, all is well: we got a real northern adventure. Adios!

Today, January 9, one more our guide - Sergey Larin flew to Argentina. Tomorrow he will, we hope, arrive in Mendoza, and will begin preparations for a meeting with members of our new expedition. This expedition will start the next day. Note that the youngest member of the group is only 14 years old. It is Dmitry Tertychnyi - to his credit there is Pyramid Carstenzs summit. He became the youngest climber in the world at this summit, which passed the entire route through the jungle… Now he plan to become the youngest Russian on the summit of Aconcagua.

Good evening! It says Vladimir Kotlyar from Argentina. We are all also in the Plaza Confluence. Today we have acclimatization at valley under the South Face of Aconcagua. A stunningly beautiful mount. There is a lot of snow this season, as I said earlier. First time at this altitude I had to stomp through the snow in some places. With the weather we were lucky. Now we are back, passed a medical control, all passed it successfully. In general, we eat, rest, preparing for tomorrow. Tomorrow we have a long, long transport, walk to the Plaza de Mulas.

Hello everybody ! It says Vladimir Kotlyar from Penitentes. It is practically next to the entrance to the national park - a small ski town, which consists of several hotels. Today we spend the night here. We have already prepared the bags for the mules. Tomorrow morning it will be taken by takes local guides and loaded on mules. We're going after them ...

A week ago, the guide 7 Summits Club Vladimir Kotlyar and his wife Oksana went to South America. In Mendoza, they celebrated the birthday of Oksana. Further, the mobile group of Kotliar’s moved in Argentine Patagonia at the region of the famous Mount Fitz Roy.

Now they are exploring the area and soon plan to move in the Chilean part of Patagonia.
Then, from December 2, begins the season on Aconcagua. All December programs have been filled.
But you can join our two groups on January - Aconcagua led by Volodya Kotlyar.

May 29th at 9 a.m. Peru time we called from the summit of Alpamayo on the answering machine to share the good news. But apparently, the call failed. Yesterday, May 30th, we have already gone down in Huaraz (3300) for the rest. Emotions subsided a bit, but the joy of a successful ascent and implementation of a long-standing dream remains.

Hello! This is Alexander Abramov, I am in Peru with Ludmila Korobeshko. Here we arrived the day before to explore and further preparation new climbing programs in Peru. According to our plan, we must climb first the mount of Alpamayo and then the highest peak of Peru - Huascaran. We are now in Huaraz and soon we leave for a trek to Alpamayo. I do not know whether it will be communication from the trek, but we will try to send messages. So long!

Our best, most athletic team in Ecuador for the New Year. Author photos - Olesya Lelyushkina. Other participants: Maria Dyachenko and Andrey Tulchinsky.
Successful ascent to the summit of Ilinitsa, Cotopaxi, attempt to climb Chiboraso. Amazement and delight of Ecuador.

Guide 7 Summits Club Vladimir Kotlyar reports from Ecuador:

For 4 days we had to go two peaks: Ilinitsa North (5126m) and Cotopaxi (5897m)! On the first day of spring in 6 a.m. we left for the summit Ilinitsa North, whose height is 5126 meters above sea level. We started from a shelter Nueve Horizontes (4700 m). At nine in the morning we were at the top, climbed up in three hours.

Cotopaxi (5897 m) - this is the highest active volcano on earth. March 3rd we reached the summit of this snow-ice giant, sometimes slightly "smoked". Climbing started from a shelter at an altitude of 4800 meters above sea level in the morning. After half an hour of walking, we had to put on crampons.

But the most vivid impression were at the top, because it was not just the highest point with stunning views of the surrounding space. The top decorated by an unusual giant crater which is smoking little by! This crater is 800 meters in diameter and 300 m deep! It's really impressive, so take my word (and better check yourself).

We came down before lunch, plunged into the car and drove to Baños! We deserve a rest!

Now we proceed to the Galapagos ...

Cotopaxi

From the news
(1)Today our group climbed to the top of Huayna Potosi (6088 m, it seems).

Leaving the beaches of Titicaca, we quickly got to the base camp of Huayna Potosi . Base camp - it's very cozy hut , around which there is roam herds of llamas and alpacas .

But then there we had a few days before climbing. Easy walks, ice class, the ascent to the upper camp ... We were doing everything for acclimatization, and it went as best as possible . Although of course it was not always easy.

But in the end, today, our whole group was on top of this beautiful mountain, which has absolutely stunning crest.

We can not say that the ascent was simple. But we did it. And as a reward - in the evening in La Paz we celebrated his first victory.

(2)Yesterday the sports part of our team climbed the highest point of Bolivia - Sajama volcano.

After taking a rest in La Paz after climbing Huayna Potosi , our team went to climb on Sajama. Unlike Huayna Potosi, the volcano Sajama is completely wild. Campgrounds , harsh conditions , high altitude , difficult technical climbing ... As a result , only half of the team was able to reach the top of this legendary peak.

And down from the mountains, the next day we plunged into the hot springs. That was real bliss . Swimming in the hot water, we looked at the top of Sahama and did not believe that another day we were standing on her ridge.

See all photos (337!) here

Hello, This is again Vladimir Kotlyar in touch! )))))

Now I am in Ecuador! Why am I here? Quite simply, the fact that I am madly loved South America and in my spare time, decided not to spend in vain, and to study other mountains of the region ...
As in Peru and Bolivia, now it rains, I am in Ecuador. So yesterday I went with a friend for the first volcano that rises just above the town.
Pichincha (4695) !!!
We were put on the top the flag of our Club !!!!

Climbing season on Aconcagua is coming to end, the Argentine summer ends. This year, the 7 Summits Club sent in this wonderful country three groups. Total for the season under the guidance of our guide Vladimir Kotlyar the highest peak in South America was reached by 12 people. Our congratulations to all!

And those who failed, we invite to try again next year! Climbing the Aconcagua is not simple, and adverse weather conditions there may be an insurmountable obstacle.

But still all those who visit these places remain enthusiastic recollection of the beauty and majesty of the mountains, of fantastic sunset, on grand scree and colorful rocks. As well as strong wind and altitude sickness, and the people had to withstand this elements. People that warmed by friendship and red wine.

Is it possible to transfer all of this in the photos? You can, if you try.

See how great it turned out at our third group, under the code name "Corkscrew" ...

The transition to the gallery (355 images) >>>>>>>