• Caucasus
  • Elbrus Region
  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Georgia
• Central Asia
  • Uzbekistan
  • Turkmenistan
  • Fann Mountains
  • Tien-Shan Mountains
  • All Central Asia
  • High Peaks
• Siberia and Pacific
  • Siberia
  • Kamchatka
  • Lake Baikal
  • Tuva and Sayan
  • Altai
• European Russia
  • Russian Capitals
  • Russian North
  • Ladoga Lake
• Crimean Peninsula
  • Crimea

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Our standard trip is 15 days. During the first we week we train in using an ice axe and crampons and have a good number of acclimatization walks. But for those who are already rather acclimatized, there is also an opportunity  to join us for a short 9-day trip.

 

The trip  begins with a Moscow city tour. Then we fly to Mineralnye Vody and drive to the base hotel in the Baksan Valley. From the hotel we make several trips following beautiful forested valleys, walking through alpine meadows, crossing glaciated mountain passes and climbing some of the easiest summits which provide superb panoramas of the Caucasus Range. These initial trips will be porter supported and will involve camping and backpacking. They will provide us with fitness and acclimatization necessary for the ascent of Elbrus itself. For the ascent of Elbrus we use a cable car system to take us to the height of about 3800m, where we stay in the Garabashi Huts and/or Diesel Hut (4100m). The actual program will depend on the weather, group condition and the availability of a snowcap which we will use to help us up the lower slopes of the mountain (if available and necessary). The trip finishes in St.Petersburg. There will be a city tour with time to visit some of the wonders of this beautiful city.

 

Our chief guide and program manager in the Caucasus is Gia Ksnelashvili, a well-qualified and experienced mountaineer and leader with an expert knowledge of the Caucasus. He will be supported by other English speaking guides. They will have ropes and a radio.

Throughout summer months our staff are based at the hotel located in the forested Baksan Valley at the foot of the Mount Elbrus. This is our main base for mountaineering and skiing programs. Our staff include cooks, a doctor, porters and guides.

 

This trip is graded as D. The first week involves porter-supported back-packing, camping in alpine meadows crossing high passes and the ascent of a simple glaciated summit. The final few days are devoted to the ascent of Elbrus. Although no advanced mountaineering experience is required for the ascent of Elbrus it is necessary to be familiar with the basic use of crampons and ice-axes. There will be several opportunities to practice them during the first ten days.

For all these programs we fly in via Moscow and generally leave via St Petersburg. City tours are included in the trip costs.

 

In Terskol we use hotel where guests stay mainly in twin-bedded rooms with showers and a balcony. In Moscow and St. Petersburg we stay in good hotels*** for one night in each city. All food during the program and on trek is included in the cost.

 

An emergency medical kit accompanies the climb. Nevertheless we  recommend you to carry your own personal first aid kit. A suggested list of contents as well as more general health information is included in pre-departure information. No special inoculations are required but we recommend to have inoculations up to date and to consult a doctor for other cover such as typhoid. Check if the insurance is up to date and covers mountain risk. 

A visa is required. Full details of the procedures involved will be included in the pre-departure information.

 

Elbrus may be attempted by any strong mountain walker who is familiar with the use of an ice axe and crampons. Nevertheless it is important to remember that it is a mountain of almost Himalayan proportions and good acclimatization is essential. In bad weather conditions may become Arctic. You should carefully think over the clothes and respect the recommendations. We also would like you to take a lightweight harness with karabiner. You might not need them but it can be useful in bad weather, and in different snow conditions that we can meet on the mountain. A four season sleeping bag and a 60 liter rucksack should be adequate. It will be always possible to leave luggage at the Hotel during the trip.

A detailed list of equipment will be sent along with confirmation.