It took about seven hours to conquer Sedov Peak on Novaya Zemlya for a combined team of servicemen from the Northern Fleet, the 12th Main Directorate of the Russian Ministry of Defense and employees of Rosatom. The first high-latitude ascent to this peak in modern history took place on August 2 within the framework of the project "The Main Face of Russia. History, Events, People", which is carried out with the participation of the Russian Geographical Society.
Sedov Peak, 1114 meters high, is located near the Matochkin Shar Strait, which separates Yuzhny and Severny Islands of the archipelago. At the top, in the rocks, the participants of the ascent put "time capsules" with messages to descendants from the command of the Northern Fleet and the 12th Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense. A memorial plaque is installed above them.
22 people participated in the ascent corresponding to the category of difficulty 2B. The expedition was led by Assistant Commander of the Northern Fleet for Physical Training Colonel Pavel Koshkarev, Chief Expert on Physical Training of the 12th Main Directorate of the Ministry of Defense Gennady Morgal, as well as mountain training instructor Captain Eduard Sarangov, who has climbing experience in the mountains of Kabardino-Balkaria, Sayan, Crimea and Swiss Alps.
On the way up, the climbers overcame the flooded streams and swampy areas, stone runs, alternating snow "tongues" and rocky outcrops. A snow ridge with a length of 300 meters awaited the participants of the ascent at the top. Here, they had to use standard climbing equipment and move in three groups in rope teams.