Elbrus climb

Transfer to the Elbrus region takes about 4 hours, on a minibus for the group members. Arrival to the glade Cheget, check into the hotel. Dinner in a hotel or one of the cafes on Glade Cheget.

Rise on the gondola lift to the station «Gara-Bashi» (3800 m.), Settling in the shelter.

The acclimatization exit to «Shelter 11» (4100 m., 2 hours), or to the end of the Ridge (4400 m., 4 hours). At the exit – training in cramping on firn and ice, classes on self-retention in snow from falling in different positions.

Dinner. Night at the shelter.

All questions related to the ratrake are discussed on the spot, the day before the ascent. The guide is not responsible for the ratrak and its organization, but can only help the participants in this matter. The ascent passes along the classical path, through Sedlovinu. The access to the highest peak of Europe is Elbrus Zapadny. During the ascent we will see the stunning scenery of the Caucasus Mountains at dawn. From the top of Elbrus a grandiose panorama of the Main Caucasian ridge stretches from west to east for many kilometers. Descent from the top. If the group manages to descend to the orphanage by 13.00, on the same day it is possible to descend to the Cheget glade (the ropeway works approximately until 2pm). Overnight at the hotel.

If the group does not manage to descend, dinner and overnight at the shelter.

A spare day for climbing. The program looks for descent down a same day.

If the group did not manage to go down on the day of the ascent (Day 6) – breakfast at the shelter, descent to the Azau meadow, transfer to the hotel and accommodation. Free time in the afternoon, rest. In the evening dinner is dedicated to the ascent to Elbrus. Overnight in a hotel.

Attention! If a reserve day was involved and the group did not manage to descend to the Cheget glade, staying for the night at the shelter, the descent down is possible on the day of depart from 9.00, when the cable car begins to work. It is recommended to buy tickets of flight with departure after 4 pm!

Cost includes

• meeting and seeing off in the Mineralnye Vody airport
• all group transfers Mineralny Vody – Elbrus – Mineralny Vody according to the program
• accommodation in a hotel (Cheget valley) in double room basis
• accommodation in high hut on Elbrus
• meals: breakfast in a hotel, full board on Elbrus
• staff: one English – speaking guide for the mountain part and extra guides on the summit day (3-4        clients to one guide), cook at hut
• local police and rescue service registrations, visa support
• Elbrus cable-way tickets
• luggage storage when climbing
• ropes for climbing

Cost does not include

• air fare from/to Mineralnye Vody
• single accommodation supplement
• individual car transfers
• personal equipment rentals
• extra (personal) guides and porters
• National Park fees
• insurance (medical and other)
• any changes in the program demanded by client(s) and entailing extra expenses
• Snow Cat service
• work of extra guides on second attempt on reserve day
• extra nights in a hotel and high hut
• lunches and dinners in a hotel

Personal climbing gear

• crampons (must fit your climbing boots), snap-on type preferable
• ice-axe (glacier walking type, not a short “tool” for ice climbing!)
• collapsible ski poles
• glacier glasses
• sit harness
• two screwgate karabiners

Camping and trekking gear

• down or synthetic sleeping bag good for -10C
• sleeping pad
• rucksack (40-50liters)
• 0,7-1 liter thermos
• personal first aid kit
• head torch
• water bottle
• lip balm (spf 25+) and glacier cream (spf 40)
• pocket knife

 Clothes for Elbrus climb

• down jacket
• thick fleece jacket
• thermal underwear
• waterproof breathable outdoor jacket
• shirt with long sleeves (prevents sunburns)
• thick sweater (wool or synthetics)
• fleece pants with long side zips
• wind&waterproof breathable pants with long side zips
• wool or fleece hat
• balaclava
• liner gloves – 2 pairs
• medium weight fleece gloves
• wool or fleece mittens
• wind-stop shell overmittens

Footwear for Elbrus climb

• thick socks – 2-3 pairs
• lighter socks – 3 pairs
• light weight trekking boots, or strong sheakers
• climbing boots, plastic or strong leather (must fit in snap-on crampons)
• gaiters

Accomodation

In the Baksan valley we put our clients in the Jantamal Hotel on Cheget Glade. Double rooms, free Wi-fi in the hall.

Our high hut on Elbrus is at 3750 m away from the Barrels. 4 persons in the room. There is a canteen, electricity from a generator, toilet booth outside.

Food

Meals are the usual European type. Lunch-packets for outings are chocolate bars, apples, juice, nuts etc.

We will change the menu on demand (as always do for Indonesian, Korean clients etc) and for vegetarians of course. If you have special preferences we will consider.

Lunches at the hotel are not included in the price. There are a lot of cafes around where you can choose from wide selection of menus. The prices are pretty low (from 350 to 500 roubles for a good lunch = 7-10USD)

Necessary papers

At all times while in Russia you should have the following documents: valid passport with Russian visa, immigration card and Voucher (part of our two invitation papers).

Health care and insurance

Health-care on the mountain is limited to the first-aid kit the guide carries. Down in the valley in case of serious health problems the local hospital and your medical insurance policy are to take over. Your policy must cover climbing to 6000m. We do not provide any insurance!

Take the personal medicine enough that you need.

Mobile connection and the Internet

Mobile phones function to 5000m. Internet is in the Hotel.

Weather

In any high mountains the higher you go, the more difficult and uncomfortable the conditions. Elbrus is 5642m, so, on this trip the range of your clothes and footwear must comply with hot sunny day down in the valley and with snow blizzard at 0-5C on the mountain. For details see our gear list.

Transportation

For land transfers we use comfortable private minivans. To get to Garabashi huts we use Elbrus cable-ways, car and chair-lift.

Important. In case the Elbrus cable-ways do not work (does happens, but very seldom) and in case you would not want to carry up all the loads on your back, the extra expenditure (not listed in «price includes») on a four-weel truck to the Garabashi huts are to be divided between the clients. Then the cost of the cable-ways tickets will be taken into account.

The same if the group decides to descend after the climb, when the cable-ways will already not work.

On the day of the ascent a Snow Cat can bring you as high as 4600m, 4700m and even to 5000m. This service is highly recommended, for a lot of time on the ascent is spent on walking over vast and almost flat snow fields at lower altitudes. As a matter of fact these distances will be already covered on the acclimatizing outings.

The price per person for this lift depends greatly on the height you want to get to, on the machine’s capacity and group size. It may be from 50USD up to 200USD and even more. Your guide will deel with this after discussing the point with the group.

Please plan your arriving to Mineralny Vody before 2pm: the group transfer from Airport to Terskol leaves at about 2pm. If you arrive more than half an hour later than that, please be ready to pay for an individual transfer to the hotel (from 50 USD). The group transfer on the way back leaves at 10 am. Expected time of arrival to the airport Mineralnye Vody is 13.30 pm. Please plan your flight back to Moscow not earlier, than 4pm.

Staff

The English speaking guide will look after you while in the mountains. There will be lessons of belaying on snow and cramponning not far from the hut. He will get the forecast and discuss with the group the best time and tactics of the ascent. During the ascent the group will be accompanied by guides-assistants (3-4 clients to a guide), who will bring down the weakened members. A cook will listen to your specific wishes and cook for you.