Kuznetsova Anastasia

Meanwhile, while the Alexander-Franklin bunch acclimatize and practice under the icy rain on the slopes of the Kotopaxi volcano, the team of Rustam and Ivan, only about 20 km away, ascends the neighboring Ilinitsa Norte volcano (5126 m) in excellent weather conditions (sun and light clouds).

But, despite favorable weather conditions, according to Rustam, if an unprepared climber goes to this mountain, he will have an "adrenaline shock".

The guys "took a normal walk to the top", the whole day was full of ascents and descents. That was awesome! Everyone feels good! In the photo and video we can see that the Cotopaxi volcano is still erupting.

And after a successful ascent, of course, a well-deserved rest and recovery before the next peak!

On the second day of your stay in Ecuador, for further acclimatization, you can choose a small volcano that you like more. One of the most popular volcano is the Pichincha Volcano (4696 m), which hangs directly over Quito itself and in clear weather from the top there are stunning views of the capital of Ecuador. From Quito, you can climb here first by the Teleferico cable car up to 4200 m and then walk along the marked trail to the very top. Many Ecuadorians and tourists like to spend time here on a good day.

Our Rustam continued his acclimatization here, accompanied by a guide Ivan. An unexpected (but hopefully pleasant) meeting with a representative of the local fauna took place at the top.

Alexander climbed another volcano, about an hour and a half drive from Quito, Guaga Pichincha (4776 m). He's a little taller and there are fewer people here. It was quite cloudy and a solid cloud cover began above 3500 m, so this time it was not possible to shoot stunning shots from the top. But the mood is excellent and the acclimatization process is going according to plan.

 And everything is still ahead!

News from Iran from our mini-team. Congratulations to Alexander and Anatoly on the SUMMIT! On July 10, 2023, the team stood on top of the highest volcano in Asia - Damavand (5671 m). According to Alexander: "... and there's not much to tell. In a good way! That is, everything took place exactly in accordance with the program. Expectations were met, the 7 Summits Club company is on top (with us!)".

The news is lightning from Iran. The group "Deniski" ascended today in full force the summit of the volcano of Asia - Demavend (567 m). We went up in two subgroups. Now everyone is already in the base camp at 4150 m, recovering from the assault. Tomorrow descent to Tehran. Details follow.

Guides Evgeny Fedyunin, Valery Myasoyedov, Olga Startseva.

The Guide of the 7 Summits Club Valery Myasoedov reports from Iran:

News from Iran. Today, the group "Inquisitive" in full force made an ascent to the summit of Damavand. We did it confidently and at an excellent pace. Now we are resting in Larijan. Details tomorrow. 

The Guide of the 7 Summits Club Valery Myasoedov reports from Iran:

Greetings from Iran! Yesterday, the equator of the program, the fourth day of the ascent of the Inquisitive group, brought variety to the hot dry weather.  At the entrance to the Mosque, we were covered with dense clouds, the traditional photo at the Mosque did not work out, and the Damavand was completely covered with clouds. The poppy slopes floated fascinatingly in the fog, and the poppies themselves were slightly nailed with dew. The photo with poppies on the background of the Damo didn't work out, but it turned out to be an unusual video. Be sure to take a look! And we will definitely take a photo with poppies on the descent. We reached the shelter at a good pace, stayed in a separate "room", and had a delicious fried chicken for dinner.

Today there was a short acclimatization walk 300 m above the shelter, after lunch rest and preparation for the assault.  Everyone feels great. We are going to storm early tomorrow morning.

A Guide of the 7 Summits Club Valery Myasoedov reports from Iran:

Greetings from Iran! The third day of the "Inquisitive" program turned out to be the most intense. From the Shemshak hotel we went for acclimatization on the Akhangarak mountain, 3400 m. It was a hot day, a steep climb, we had to work hard, but when we approached the top, our Iranian guide Hossein announced that we were the first Russian group to climb this landmark peak. That's such an achievement! Next, lunch at a super restaurant on the riverbank, chicken kebab was delicious! After lunch, transfer to Demavend to get permits at the office of the Iranian Mountaineering Federation and, finally, to Larijan with its thermal waters. For dinner ... kebab again! ... but it is impossible to refuse this yummy, especially good was the lamb liver kebab and chicken fat. We ate everything, even asked for supplements. Tomorrow we climb to the refuge at 4200 m, the final and most important part of the program begins.

The Guide of the 7 Summits Club Valery Myasoedov reports from Iran:

Greetings from Iran! The program of climbing the Damavand of our second group of this season started yesterday. Evening arrival and immediately get acquainted with Tehran from a bird's-eye view, from the rotating restaurant of the Milad Tower at an altitude of 280 m. The incomparable Mariam, the head and founder of the Russian Language Department at Tehran University, our guide, told us about the history of traditions and customs of family life and religion of this country. There were a great many questions, our participants showed such interest in the cultural traditions of Iran that the name of the group appeared immediately. The most inquisitive group will be called simply "Inquisitive". And all this conversation took place under countless tasting dishes of Iranian cuisine. A heartfelt memorable evening, a great start. Today is our first day of acclimatization, follow our news.

Guide and manager of the 7 Summits Club Anastasia Kuznetsova reports from Iran:

 Greetings from Larijan! Larijan is a village in Iran with hot springs at the foot of Demavend. Our team of the 7 Summits Club started from here towards the Demavend base camp called Barham Sevom (4150 m).

At the camp with the mosque, we loaded our luggage onto jeeps and started the ascent on foot. The process of climbing showed that we have the best team. We decided to rename it "The Expendables" (but perhaps this is also not the final name of the group). All the participants went together and helped each other. There were no other groups on the mountain besides our group. This confirmed that we have chosen the right strategy. And of course, everyone was pleased with the surprise from our chefs. We didn't eat such yummy food even in restaurants in Tehran. Now we are resting and preparing for tomorrow.

Your guides are Valery Myasoyedov, Evgeny Fedyunin, project coordinator - Anastasia Kuznetsova.

We invite everyone to Iran!

Guide and manager of the 7 Summits Club Anastasia Kuznetsova reports from Iran:

Greetings from Iran! Our team continues the process of acclimatization, getting closer and closer to the Damavand. Today we have studied the infrastructure of the local ski resort Tochal (And yes! There are ski resorts in Iran). We took the cable car to the Tochal pass up to 3700 m, then went down on it to our hotel at 3600 m.

We rested a little and continued acclimatization, climbed to the top of Mount Shah Neshin (3900), checked the equipment. At the summit, we launched a kite (a record application from Viktor Alexandrov), met a local fox cub.

Before dinner, we conducted a breathing practice and fixed acclimatization. We discussed our plans for tomorrow and finished the day with backgammon and chess games. Friendship won, of course!

Guides Valery Myasoedov, Evgeny Fedyunin, Anastasia Kuznetsova.

Guide and manager of the 7 Summits Club Anastasia Kuznetsova reports from Iran:

Greetings to all from hot Persia! So our summer season has started on Damavand. Today we met our first group, an already well-coordinated team. Most of the members have climbed Elbrus and Kilimanjaro together before.

The day turned out to be eventful and full of impressions. The acquaintance with Tehran began with a tasting of a local traditional dish - dizi. The most famous restaurant is located in the Grand Bazaar area in a historic building where the very first bank in Iran used to be.

A shared photo with the owner of the restaurant is attached. Of course, we visited Golestan, reviewed all the shah's palaces of the Qajar era, the tombstone of the last Shah, copies of thrones, the diamond hall, gifts of the shah, for which a separate building was built.

We were introduced to Tehran by the beautiful Maryam, professor of the Russian language department at the university and an expert in local history.

The evening and the welcome dinner were held in the panoramic revolving restaurant of the Milad TV tower with a view of the evening sparkling Tehran.

We discussed all the details of tomorrow and, of course, congratulated Viktor Alexandrov on his birthday! We are very glad that he decided to spend his BD with us!

The guides are in touch with you - Valery Myasoyedov, Evgeny Fedyunin, Anastasia Kuznetsova.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Anastasia Kuznetsova reports from Morocco:

Well, that's it! No matter how much the string does not curl, it still ends sooner or later.  So our Moroccan adventures are coming to an end. There's a flight tomorrow. But, today everything is still going on and we are in Es Suaire - the city of artists, hippies and people with taste! The power of the Atlantic is felt - stormy and strong wind (laying is useless). This time we are not in a hurry - we breathe, look, remember. Someone meets the sunset at the fort, the strong half experienced the local hamam and Berber massage (well, at least to wash at the same time after the mountains and the desert), did not rush to buy souvenirs and argan oil, tasted all kinds of local fish and seafood.

Argan grows and bears fruit only in Morocco. Only in the area of Es Sueira, thanks to the cold Canary current and a certain microclimate, argan nuts ripen. Tomorrow there is a jog in the plan, seeing off Andrey, who leaves a day later and the airport. Everything has its ending!

Your Anastasia Kuznetsova and the Energy group.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Anastasia Kuznetsova reports from Morocco:

  Warm greetings from North Africa, from the edge of the desert! We met the dawn in the desert on the top of a dune, not being afraid of the beginning of a sandstorm. Part of the team took a jeep safari through the dunes, the other meditated among the endless smooth lines of the incessant dunes riding camels. In the desert comes peace and tranquility, sooner or later, one way or another. The equator of our journey has passed and now we are heading back to Marrakech. We had lunch in one of the casbahs converted into a restaurant and a guest house.

 In the evening, at sunset, we walked along the ancient streets of the Kasbah Ain Ben Haddu, the largest and oldest in the region, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Anastasia Kuznetsova reports from Morocco:

Today is an important day! The day of the assault on the summit of Jebel Tubkal (4167 m), the highest in North Africa. Oddly enough, Moroccans do not consider themselves Africans and mention in conversation that they have never been to Africa.  But, I got a little distracted. Jebel in Arabic means mountain, and not part of the name, as some people think. So the Energy group stood today at the top of this jebel in full force, which everyone was incredibly happy about. All the guys - with the top!!!

On the descent, between conversations, it turned out that in the valley leading to the shelter, halfway, there is a holy place where the trial of the king of genies was once held. People come here from all over North Africa (and even Celine Dion came in the old days) to pray and ask for something important. Women usually ask for a husband or children here, men for healing.

And the Energy group is now resting in an atmospheric mountain loggia overlooking the valley and gaining strength before further adventures!

Greetings to all from Morocco, guide Anastasia Kuznetsova.

The guide of the 7 Summits Club Anastasia Kuznetsova reports from Morocco:

May 2. Beginning. Warm greetings from Africa to all!  Today, the sun over terracotta Marrakech was especially expressive. Everything was being prepared for the arrival of the 7 Summits Club group in Morocco to reveal their secrets and introduce them to the most incredible North African country, where everything is "wrapped up and mixed up" and everyone gets along well with each other.

Without delay, immediately after arrival, we did not dive, but plunged headlong into the atmosphere of the Middle Ages.  We walked through the streets of the medina, which has not changed for centuries. We walked to the hotel, but did not get there, because it is simply impossible to get by transport through the incredible maze of streets.

Then, as expected, an info briefing and equipment check. Then lunch in a traditional restaurant with a view of the ruined walls of the royal palace, where storks are now nesting. Then fresh fruit tasting at the most famous square in Africa - Gemma el Fna and preparation for tomorrow's trip to the mountains.

High Atlas is waiting for us! And its blue ridges in the misty haze are already visible from the roof of the riad and beckon.

Super news from Tanzania! Our team led by guides Evgeny Fedyunin and Sergey Avtomonov in full force on New Year's Eve climbed the highest peak in Africa - Kilimanjaro volcano (5895 m). Together with our team, dozens of climbers from different countries of the world met the New Year 2023 on the mountain. For someone it was the first peak, for someone not the first, but memorable for a long time.  We are waiting for details and photos. Happy New Year to everyone!

News from Ecuador. The team of the 7 Summits Club "Four Brave" ascended the Chimborazo volcano (6310 m) on New Year's Eve. Two guys were standing on the main peak of Chimborazo. One member of the team stood on a small peak with a beautiful name Ventimiglia. And another participant reached the high-altitude camp at 5,300 m and decided not to go further due to poor health. Apparently the mountain does not want to part with her, and wants her to come back!  Happy New Year to all!

Today, the team of the 7 Summits Club "Four Brave" in full ascended the Сayambe volcano (5790 m). Now the participants have descended to the thermal springs in Papayaktu, are resting, preparing for the next ascent. Chimborazo is ahead!

News from Kilimanjaro. The guides of the 7 Summits Club, Evgeny Fedyunin and Sergey Avtomonov, report.  Jambo!  The group "Akuna Matata Rafiki" of the 7 Summits Club on December 28th met the morning on the border of equatorial forests and heather thickets at an altitude of 3000m. Everyone feels great! Through the clouds, we were greeted by the summit of Uhuru Peak 5895m, the highest point of Mount Kibo in the Kilimanjaro massif. The weather today is not particularly pampering, rain and drizzle all the way, moorland is justified (swampy area).  The team coped with all the tasks PERFECTLY!

We visited the caves of the Shira Plateau, where even before 2010 local teams of porters lived during the Kilimanjaro climbing programs! We are waiting for dinner, everyone is happy!