Volcanic 7 Summits
Dream Of The Unknown – the project
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Volcanic 7 Summits
My passion are volcanic as well as remote and as rarely as possible traveled landscapes. In search of new challenges and goals, I came across the Volcanic Seven Summits, the highest volcanoes on each continent, at the end of 2015. To date, they have been completely climbed by just 20 climbers.
However, the goal of this project for me was not the summits, but the pictures and stories under the motto “breaking new ground”. Two exciting years and seven adventures that could not be more different.
Unique, extraordinary and also very personal stories from partly unknown and very exciting regions on our planet: Of being completely alone in the largest no man’s land on earth in the icy Antarctic at a volcano that no 30 people had ever seen before, of the crazy and logistically completely stupid idea of a first ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania by e-bike, of deadly mountaineering dangers on steep glaciers in Mexico, and of success and failure on tours on foot, on skis and by kayak.
In addition, stories of extreme, skiing and mass tourism, of nature conservation. And above all about the country and its people from seven completely different cultures: shining men’s eyes in Tanzania, pigs’ heads in colorful and fiery Mexico, Sacher cake to German Christmas carols in Tehran, as well as magical stories from the deep green jungles of Papua New Guinea.
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Mount Sidley (13.717ft) – Antarctica
Although I can’t stand the cold, I started the project on the iciest of all continents. I visited a volcano in Antarctica that no other 30 people in the entire history of mankind had ever seen before me. In addition to complex logistics, my biggest challenge was to spend a day completely on my own in the largest no-man’s land on earth!
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Kilimanjaro (19.341ft) – Africa
For the highest free-standing and one of the most famous mountains on earth with its five vegetation zones, I thought of something very special. It was the world’s first ascent of Kilimanjaro by e-bike. Completely unexpectedly, the greatest difficulty here turned out to be not the altitude and also not the extreme volcanic conditions for the wheels, but the African concept of time.
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Pico de Orizaba (18.491ft) – North America
At the technically most demanding of the seven volcanoes, I unfortunately had to experience the risks of mountaineering firsthand. Nevertheless, I also achieved one of my greatest summit successes there. This trip was also marked by the “Ruta de Volcanes” and a very colorful and cheerful Mexico.
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Ojos del Salado (22.615ft) – South America
Chile was all about altitude. At the highest volcano on earth, I was up to over 16,400ft by car. But I also suffered altitude sickness for the first time. All embedded in the fascinating landscape of the Atacama Desert, which seems to come from another planet. Pure landscape photography.
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Elbrus (18.510ft) – Europa
On Mount Elbrus I tried a ski tour for the first time. In the best sunny weather, lightly clad locals and fantastic views of the Caucasus Mountains. One hundred percent mountain sports fun!
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Damavand (18.386ft) – Asia
As lucky as I was with the weather on Mount Elbrus, I was unlucky with the weather on Damavand in Iran. Snowstorm and hail on the mountain, thunderstorm in the desert. But I was rewarded with a fantastic, hospitable country, unique landscapes and an original Sacher cake in Tehran.
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Mount Giluwe (14.330ft) – Oceania
The V7S project has found its worthy conclusion on Papua New Guinea and Mount Giluwe. With its seemingly endless green jungles and a very exciting culture, this tour once again impressively proves the fascinating diversity of our planet.
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