Lost glacier camera reunited with owner after 17 years on Lenin Peak

An old camera, lost on a remote glacier, has been returned to its owner after 17 years. In August 2025, Russian mountaineer Alisa Vedernikova found the device on Lenin Peak at roughly 4,400 metres. The discovery led to an unexpected reunion with the camera's original owner—an Iranian climber who had given up hope of ever seeing it again.

The camera's memory card held photos and videos from 2008, showing a group of climbers believed to be from Iran. Vedernikova shared the recovered images on social media in early 2026, hoping to track down their owners. Among those who saw the post was Parastou Abrishami, a professional mountaineering instructor.

Abrishami immediately recognized herself in the footage and confirmed she had lost the camera during her ascent of Lenin Peak in 2008. She reached out to Vedernikova, who verified the details and agreed to return the files. Vedernikova plans to send Abrishami digital copies of all the surviving photos and videos.

No further records or images on the memory card revealed how many other climbers were part of the 2008 Iranian expedition.

The camera's journey from a high-altitude glacier to its original owner took nearly two decades. Abrishami will now have access to the lost footage, preserving memories of her climb. Vedernikova's efforts ensured the images were not lost for good.