Mt. Elbrus, Russia
18,510 ft The highest point in Europe!
July 21 - Auguest 1, 2011
$4800
UTM: Zone 38 292311E 4803253N
Эльбрус (Mt Elbrus) is a volcanic cone with two peaks. The name “Elbrus” means two heads and come from Persian. It the highest point in Europe and one of the prized Seven Summits. Come and climb and then ski this magnificent peak with Kling Mountain Guides. Mt. Elbrus lies in the Caucasus mountain, which are 25 million years old with over 2000 glaciers! It sits on the northern spur of the main Caucasus ridge at the western edge of the Baxan Valley. The Elbrus area, know in Russian as Prielbruse, pulls in a more adventurous crown than Dombay!
Expedition Background
Our trip starts off in the small Russian town of Azau at just bellow 7,000 ft. This will be our staging area. From here we will take two cable cars and a ski lift to our base camp and huts at 12,795 ft/ 3900m. The first set of huts we reach are the called the “Barrels”( see picture bellow). We will spend several nights here to acclimatize. During the days, small ski tours will help us get used to the altitude. These huts have significant and legendary history.
Once acclimatized, we will continue higher up the mountain to Priyut Odinnadtsaty, or Camp 11 on the Garanashi Glacier (see picture above). This will be our high camp where we prep for our summit bid and ski descent. From here we have the option to use snowcats to take us to the top of Pastuckhov rocks at over 5000m! See picture bellow for a 360 degree view from our rest break at Pashtuckhov Rocks. To further our acclimatization we will again spend several nights at Camp 11. Along with resting, small ski tours will help fill the time during the days.
Our final summit day will take approximately 12 hours round trip. While the altitude is high, and the temperatures can be cold, it is not a technically difficult climb. We will leave the hut early, with a pre-dawn alpine start. We will take several breaks before reaching the final pitch to the summit. From the summit, we will click into our skis, and begin our ski descent of the tallest peak in Europe!
This trip should not only be looked at as a once in a life time ski and climbing trip, but also a cultural excursion to a remote region of the globe! The food in Russia is very good. We will be serving food for you in the huts once we are out of the villages.
You will need to be an intermediate skier. Visas are mandatory and you must have a Passport well in advance of registration. We will provide arrangements for travel in advance.
Cost: $4500
Price Includes
- Guide fees including our Russian support staff
- Sightseeing while in Russia
- Double accommodations in hotels
- Double accommodations while on the mountain in huts
- Ground transportation
- Group equipment (stoves, cooking fuel, technical climbing equipment, equipment, first aid kits)
- Meals while on the mountain
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare and the flight to/ from Minerlinye Vodi
- Visa fees
- Items of personal nature
- Individual travel costs, delays, etc.
- Excess baggage fees
- Personal Clothing or gear
- Alcoholic drinks and personal snacks
- Hotels before and after trip
- Recommended Travel/trip cancelation insurance
- Guide/ Staff gratuities
Prerequisites:
- Prior basic mountaineering experience,
- Be comfortable with self and team arrest
- Have experience with crampons
- Basic roped climbing experience.
- Be comfortable carrying a 55 lbs pack
- If you do not possess these skills or need review, we recommend doing a skills course with us in Colorado prior to your expedition. The Intro To Mountaineering course with San Juan College is a perfect precursor.
Registration:
- To secure your spot on this trip you will need to fill out our expedition registration packets. A 50% deposit is required. Please get in touch with our office for more information about this incredible journey.
