Everest 2006: 7 Summits Club expedition crossing safe this time

Copyright©Everestnews.com

April 2: News of "7 Summits Club  expedition

All last week Alexander Abramov and his comrades from a service team in Katmandu solved complicated problems on maintenance of the future expedition. In result, in the morning March, 31 five lorries have gone in the direction of Tibet. At 11:30 they have crossed border with China. Nikolay Chernyi, Andrey Selivanov and Maxim Onipchenko have proceeded together with a cargo in base camp with 20 Sherpas. The transfer has passed without undue incident. It seems, this year all is quiet. Not as the last year when climbers went under bombardment.

Alexander Abramov has remained in Katmandu. He will wait for the basic group which will start to gather by the end of new week.

April, 3 we have left Periche, went downwards to meet Alex Abramov. He flew to Lukla a day before. Under the plan we should meet him somewhere in the area of Tiangboche. Near the monastery we have met Valentin Bozhukov (he is now 72 years old!), the famous climber and inventor of his own version of liquid oxygen. Have a little talk. He goes with friends to the Everest base camp to do some paragliding. And then he will join us in the North side of Everest. He still hope to climb the highest point.. Great man.

In midday we have met Alex in Tiangboche. He has told latest news what happens in the world – continuous disorders, as appeared.

A few minutes later, we met here Vern Tejas, the leader of Alpine Ascents expedition, our old friend from Elbrus and Vinson. To the evening we all were in Namch Bazar. The next morning we started early to descent in Lukla. On road we have met a lot of expeditions going to Base Camp of the Everest. We approached to Lukla already in darkness. It was necessary to pass through 5-6 militaries posts: soldiers partition off road a barbed wire after 18.00.

In the Himalayan Lodge, the owner Dava Chiri Sherpa met us hospitably, he said he is as a big friend of Russian climbers. He has shown us a film of one of his friends - Victor Kozlov, about Lhotse expedition 1997. By the way, Alex Abramov was an operator on that film. So we have watched a film with double pleasure.

In the morning 5-th, a military plane has arrived in Lukla. It was a little disturbing, but flight has passed normally. Though the plane flied low and we were afraid of Maoists bombardments. Last night in Katmandu we have tried to buy all souvenirs as knew, that since next morning because of strike anybody will not work.

April, 6. It is indeed. Today streets of Katmandu are silent and deserted. We sit in the Waishali hotel. Likely, there is no huge disorder in the city. For us everything is all right. Under the plan our trekking group takes off at Saturday for Moscow. And members of Everest expedition already began to gather here. The main part of them should arrive in Katmandu at 10th, just after the strike.
 

Dispatches

Background: Expedition name "7 Summits Club"

Expedition Leader - Alexander Abramov

Expedition guides - Alexander Abramov, Russia (main guide and leader,  Everest Summiteer, leader of 5 Himalayan Expeditions)

                   -  Igor Svergun, Ukrain (guide, 2 times Everest summiter,  from the North without oxygen, 5 other 8-thousanders, has 2 Piolet d’Ore)

                   - Mingma Gelu Sherpa, Nepal (sirdar, 5 times Everest Summiteer)

                  - Sergey Kofanov, Russia (assistant guide)

                  - Ludmila Korobeshko, Russia (assistant guide)

                  - Andrey Selivanov, Russia (doctor and ABC manager)

                  - Maxim Onipchenko, Russia (mountain ranger, BC manager)

                  - Sergey Chistyakov, Russia (internet project manager)

                  List of  expedition members:

To the top

 20 Sherpas

6 cooks

6 kitchen boys

Total: 73 (30 clients, 43 staff)

Expedition start date : April 10

Expedition end date : June 10

Alexander Abramov with part of the staff arrives in Katmandu on March 20 to start the preparations for such a big expedition. 200 oxygen bottles are already bought for the expedition. 

Update: Alex is currently in Nepal meeting with Asian Trekking..

Millet One Sport Everest Boot  has made some minor changes by adding more Kevlar. USES Expeditions / High altitude / Mountaineering in extremely cold conditions / Isothermal to -75°F Gore-Tex® Top dry / Evazote Reinforcements with aramid threads. Avg. Weight: 5 lbs 13 oz Sizes: 5 - 14 DESCRIPTION Boot with semi-rigid shell and built-in Gore-Tex® gaiter reinforced by aramid threads, and removable inner slipper Automatic crampon attachment Non-compressive fastening Double zip, so easier to put on Microcellular midsole to increase insulation Removable inner slipper in aluminized alveolate Fiberglass and carbon footbed Cordura + Evazote upper Elasticated collar. Expedition footwear for mountaineering in conditions of extreme cold.  NOTE US SIZES LISTED. See more here.

A cold weather, high altitude double boot for extreme conditions The Olympus Mons is the perfect choice for 8000-meter peaks. This super lightweight double boot has a PE thermal insulating inner boot that is coupled with a thermo-reflective outer boot with an integrated gaiter. We used a super insulating lightweight PE outsole to keep the weight down and the TPU midsole is excellent for crampon compatibility and stability on steep terrain. WEIGHT: 39.86 oz • 1130 g LAST: Olympus Mons CONSTRUCTION: Inner: Slip lasted Outer: Board Lasted OUTER BOOT: Cordura® upper lined with dual-density PE micro-cellular thermal insulating closed cell foam and thermo-reflective aluminium facing/ Insulated removable footbed/ Vibram® rubber rand See more here.

   Ascenders

   Atlas snowshoes

   Atomic

   Big Agnes

   Black Diamond

   Brunton

   Carabiners

   Chaco

   Cloudveil

   Columbia
   CMI

   Crampons

   Edelweiss ropes
   Eureka Tents

   Exofficio

   FiveTen

   Featured

   FoxRiver

   Gregory

   Granite Gear

   Harnesses
   Headlamps

   Hestra
   Helmets

   Helly Hansen

   HighGear

   HornyToad
   Ice Axes

   Julbo

   Kavu Eyewear

   Katadyn

   Kelty

   Kong

   Lekisport

   Life is Good

   Lowa

   Lowe Alpine

   Lowepro

   Millet

   Motorola

   Mountain Hardwear

   Mountainsmith

   MSR

   Nalgene

   New England Ropes

   Nikwax

   Omega

   Osprey

   Outdoor Research
   Patagonia

   Pelican

   Petzl

   Prana

   Princeton Tec

   Primus

   Rope Bags

   Royal Robbins

   Salomon

   Scarpa

   Scott

   Seattle Sports

   Serius
   Sleeping Bags

   Sterling Rope

   Stubai

   Suunto

   Tents

   Teva

   Thermarest

   Trango

   Tool Logic

   Trekking Poles
   Yaktrax
   and more here