Mt. Elbrus is the highest mountain in Europe, one of the SEVEN SUMMITS, the highest point on each continent. The climb is long and strenuous. It is not technically difficult but requires crampons, ice-axes, and basic glacier travel skills.
Itinerary of Full Standard 11-day (10 night) Mt. Elbrus climb
(may be slightly adjusted according to weather and other conditions)
The ground portion of the expedition begins at the Minerlanye Vody Airport Russia
Transportation to and from Minerlanye Vody Airport via Moscow can be arranged based on airfares
Day 1. Arrival day. Meeting in Minerlanye Vody airport (MinVody), transportation (4 hours) to our hotel at the foothills of Elbrus.
Day 2. Acclimatization ascent (using ski lifts if possible) of Cheget Mountain, 3600 m (11,800 feet). Stunning view of Mt. Elbrus and Mt. Donguzorun. Overnight stay in the hotel.
After breakfast, we walk from the hotel to Cheget. When we reach Cheget village we use ski lifts (chairs) to get as high as possible and follow the mountain edge to the summit of Cheget Mountain 3600 m (11,800 feet). If the weather is good we can spend 40 minutes on the top for making pictures and sightseeing. Then we go down to Cheget village again and have a lunch there in a local cafe. On the way back we can visit mineral spring (natural, with gas). If you wish to hire any equipment, ask your guide and he will make a stop at the equipment shop. We return to the hotel at about 4-5 pm.We have dinner and overnight there.
Day 3. Acclimatization hike to one of the valleys (Adyr-su, Adyl-sy) depending on current weather. Overnight stay in the hotel.
After breakfast, we start from the mountain lodge.Our minibus will take you to the starting point of the hike. Excat valley and rout will depend on current situation with weather. Generally speaking activity and altitude for this day are moderate. We return back to the hotel at about 5-6 pm, we have lunch in a cafe on the way back, dinner in hotel and overnight there.
Day 4. Ride ski lifts. Acclimatization hike on Elbrus slopes up to 4100 m. Descent to the valley. Overnight stay in the hotel.
After breakfast we start from the mountain lodge and ride cable lifts. There are two parts of cable lift and one chairlift then. Lifts take us to the Garabashi lift station, the place where The Barrels huts are situated (3800 m). From the Barrels the snow and ice actually begin. It takes us about 1 hour to get to the former Priut-11 hut site (4100 m). Now, the Diesel hut is situated there and some huts nearby. If you feel ok that moment you can go further up to the beginning of Pastukhov rocks (4400 m).
We have to be back to Garabashi station at 3-4 pm to catch the lifts. Lunch in an Azau cafe. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.
Day 5. Ride ski lifts. Set up base camp. Acclimatization hike up to 4500 m. Basic ice/snow/rope/self-belay course. Overnight stay in a small hut on the slopes of Elbrus.
- After breakfast we start from the mountain hotel with all necessary climbing gear. You can leave your unnecessary gear at the hotel. We set our base camp at the Barrels huts (3900 m/12800 ft).
- You will carry your own equipment/clothes from hotel to lifts (5 minutes) and from lifts to the huts (5 minutes). Sometimes( not often) the 3rd leg of lifts is closed and it may occur that you have to walk from lifts to the huts. It takes about 40 minutes along a good trail. That is why please have a backpack not a handbag for your gear.
- After a short rest and tea we start for a hike up to the beginning of the Pastuckhov rocks and probably higher (4200-4300 m/ 14100 ft). Depending on weather and time your guide may offer to have a short snow\ice\rope\self-belay technique courses. Lunch, dinner and overnight at the Barrels huts.
Day 6. Acclimatization hike up to 5000 m. Overnight stay in a hut.
After breakfast we start from the hut and will try to ascend as high as it is possible (up to about 5000 m) higher than the Pastuckhov rocks. Overnight at the Barrels huts.
Day 7. Relax day. Overnight stay in a hut.
We think that it is good to have a good rest before a summit day. That is why this day we will go for an acclimatization hike not higher than 4300 m (14100 ft) and return to the huts for rest. Depending on weather and time your guide may offer to have a short snow\ice\rope\self-belay technique courses. Although we do not recommend strenuous hikes on this day if you want to go higher our guide can accompany you but not higher than Pastuckhov rocks. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, overnight in the Barrels huts.
Sometimes if all people in a group are in a very good shape and have good acclimatization we can climb the top even this day. However the decision about this must be made on day 3.
Day 8. Summit day. Leave base camp about 3 am for the climb of Elbrus' west summit, 5642 m (18,498 feet). Descend to base camp. Overnight stay in a hut.
We rise very early in the morning (at about 2am) and leave The Barrels after breakfast at about 3am. The idea is to meet sunrise somewhere over the Pastuckhov rocks. It is possible to hire a snow-cat (Ratrak) for a group. This vehicle carries climbers (12 people) up to Pastuckhov rocks and saves 2 hours and a lot of energy. Generally, for an average group, it takes about 7 hours to reach the top and 3 hours to come back to The Barrels.
Generally we stay at the Barrels this night. If a group returns to the Barrels before 2 pm we can discuss the possibility to descend to the valley and have overnight at the mountain hotel. However this will require additional payment for hotel, because this night is paid for the huts.
Day 9. Reserve day for climbing Elbrus or descent to the Baksan valley if we climb the summit on day 7.
In case we climbed the top on 'day 8' we descend to the mountain hotel and have a rest day with short hikes around or shopping at the wool market. Breakfast at the Barrels, lunch at an Azau cafe, dinner at the lodge.
In case we do not climb the top on 'day 8' because of bad weather - this day will be the summit day.
Day 10. Reserve day for climb and escend to the Baksan valley or a hiking/relax day if a group have already descended.
This is the latest day we can try to climb Mt. Elbrus. If there was bad weather for some days we can try to climb the top this day but we must descend to the valley this day so it may be a hard day for everybody.
Day 11. Drive to Mineralnye Vody.
Land cost of the tour includes:
Baksan valley, Caucasus - "Scheherazade" hotel- shared twin or triple room.
Base camp - The Barrels hut.
Transfers mentioned in the itinerary, by bus and lifts.
All meals. (if you like to cook your own meals our guide will provide you with hot, boiled water and necessary assistance.)
All necessary permits and registrations.
Guide(s). One guide for the group throughout the tour. One mountain guide for three people for the summit attempt (1/3 guide/client ratio).
Group equipment (ropes, ice screws etc)
Land cost of the tour does not include.
Transfers not included in the program.
Riding snow-cat (Ratrak, a vehicle transporting people along the snow slopes).
Single occupancy supplement (on request).
Personal equipment (such as sleeping bag, boots, crampons etc)
Ground cost per person $2800 (plus tax)
A $1000 non-refundable deposit is required
|
|
