Climbing Mount Elbrus (5642 m)
This trip is currently unavailable. Continue exploring the site and find your guided adventure!
You may also like
Climbing Mount Elbrus (5642 m), a 9-day mountaineering adventure in the Caucasus together with Ivan, a KMGA certified mountain guide.
Caucasus
9 Days
May - Oct
High
Intermediate
Description
The Main Caucasian Ridge, which includes Mt Elbrus, has a West-East extension of 1200 km. The Black Sea is on one end and the Caspian on the other. Its barriers are not only geographical, they are also political and ethnic. It separates Russia from the Caucasus with its range of nationalities.
The traditional division of the Greater Caucasus is into 3 regions: West, Central, and East Caucasus. The Main Ridge over Mt. Elbrus to the West and the Kazbek (5033 m) to the East mark the limits.
There are dozens of peaks over 4000 m. Furthermore, there are five 5000 m peaks in the area. Each one of them is special and beautiful.
The Elbrus region is a true gem of the Central Caucasus. Nowadays it is an extremely popular region of the Caucasus for sports and recreation.
In this region, there are many famous peaks, for example, Donguz-Orun (4492 m), Shkhelda (4300 m), Tchatyn (4368 m), Ushba (4710 m), and of course Mt. Elbrus (5642 m), the highest peak in Europe.
There are different routes to ascend Mont Elbrus. Here I propose following the South Route. Please note that we can also decide on a longer trip (12 days), and acclimatize more exploring other peaks as well.
Do you find this trip interesting? Then please contact me so we can discuss your ideal program!
I work together with a group of guides, so if I’m not available, one of my colleagues will guide you!
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival
Arrival to Mineralnye Vody airport. 4-hour bus transfer to Terskol village in the Baksan valley (about 2000 m above the sea). Accommodation in a hotel for two nights.
Day 2: Observatory - Glacial base
Acclimatisation ascent to an observatory of Elbrus (3000 m). Then we continue up to an altitude above 3400-3500 m – Glacial Base. Excursion party to the local bazaar (souvenirs and handmade woollen things). Night in the hotel.
Day 3: Gara-Bashi station
Check-out from the hotel. 4 km transfer up to “Azau” (2250 m). It’s the lowest station of the Elbrus cable-way. Lifting by the cable-way up to the highest point: “Gara-Bashi” station (3750 m), which includes 2 lower cabin spans, and the upper part – chair-lift. The latter one does not operate sometimes depending on the weather conditions.
Accommodation in the “Bochki” (“Barrels”) high mountain hotel or in some other huts hereabouts. 1.5 hour acclimatisation walk up to another hotel – “Priut odinnadtsati” (“Shelter of the 11”, 4050 m), return down to “Barrels”.
Day 4: Pastukhovs Rocks
Acclimatisation ascent up to Pastukhovs Rocks (4700-4800 m) or higher. Return down to “Barrels” (3-4 hours up and 1-1.5 hour down).
Day 5: Summit day
Summit day. Ascent of Elbrus West (5642 m) or Elbrus East (5621m). Leaving for the ascent at 2-3 A.M., 10-12 hours totally. Night in “Barrels”.
Day 6: and Day 7. Reserve days for bad weather.
Day 8: Terskol
Return to Terskol. Overnight in the hotel.
Day 9: Return
Transfer to the airport, flight home.
Details
More info
You can rent equipment on site.
Meeting point
Find more mountaineering trips
Join our newsletter!
Stay up-to-date on the best adventures.