06 April 2023Web conferences, Snow Leopard
Snow Leopard Challenge avec Serge Bazin

On October 12 1967, to encourage and reward the best in the race to the top, the Bureau of the Central Council of Sports Societies and Organizations of the USSR decided to award a prize to those who managed to climb the five highest Soviet peaks. The Snow Leopard challenge was born. It wasn't until 1985 that the first two Westerners to win the challenge were Americans. Finally, in 1997, a French couple, Brigitte and Pierre Meloni, won the prestigious medal. They are the third medal-winning couple. In 2011, Serge Hardy will be the fifth and last Frenchman to win the title.

Who's next? Maybe you will!

Together with mountain guide Serge Bazin, Expeditions Unlimited is taking on this rare challenge with one expedition and one summit every two years from this summer 2023, starting with the 7105-meter Korjenevskaya peak. In our interview, Eric Bonnem, founder of Secret Planet, talks to Serge Bazin about the origins and content of this challenge. They review the five summits, from the well-known Peak Lenin to Pobeda at 7439 metres, probably the biggest challenge. They discuss preparation, difficulties and more.

Join the Snow Leopard challenge.

 

Central Asia

Climb Lenin Peak at 7154 meters in Kyrgyzstan

Your first 7000er, technically accessible, where we plan more days of acclimatization. The weather is often complicated, so we plan to climb in the first half of August, which is generally more favorable.
27 days
Last seats for the next departure of 20/07/2025
Expédition au sommet du Korjenevskaya au Tadjikistan

Central Asia

Climb Korzhenevskoi Peak at 7105 meters in Tajikistan

The ascent of Korjenevskaya or Korzhenevskoï Peak (known as Ozodi Peak since 2020) is slightly more difficult than that of Lenin Peak. But it takes place in an imposing setting, in the heart of the…
35 days
Guaranteed next departure on 09/07/2025
Alpinisme au sérac entre le camp 2 et 3 du pic Communisme

Central Asia

Climb Ismoil Somoni Peak at 7495 meters in Tajikistan

The Ismoil Somoni Peak (former Communism Peak), marks the highest point of the former USSR at 7495 meters. The imposing pyramid of rock and summit ice rests on a vast quadrilateral whose four faces…
35 days
Guaranteed next departure on 26/07/2027