With its snow-covered mountains, spectacular waterfalls and breathtaking gorges, the Caucasus offers a wealth of scenic attractions.
The Caucasus, this huge, over 1100 km long mountain range stretches from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea through Russian, Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani territories. The North of its main chain is dominated by Mount Elbrus with its two peaks, the western peak (5,642 m) and a little lower eastern peak (5,621 m).
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| Tour number: | RU 0404 |
| Travel time: | Beginning of June till end of August |
| Minimum participants: | 4 |
| Difficulty level: | 
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Description:
The Elbrus, in Caucasian language means "Snow Mountain" and "Mountain of Happiness", dominates its neighbours with more than 1,000 m and gives us a panoramic view of the entire Caucasus region. Because of its still largely unspoiled beauty he magical attracts nature lovers and mountain enthusiasts.
The climb to the Elbrus summit along the popular route is technically not too difficult. From Azau glacier with the Barrels Camp the route leads over the Pastukhov Rock and the Sedlowina saddle (5325 m) to the two peaks.
Nevertheless, to overcome the 1700 meters altitude requires good acclimatization.
Accordingly, we will prepare ourselves for several days in Ullu Tau Camp (2,360 m) for the ascent to Mount Elbrus.
Depending on weather conditions, tours on the adjacent passes and peaks will be undertaken.
Highlights:
Adyrsu Valley * Cheget peak * Pastukhov Rock * Mount Elbrus
Itinerary
Day 1:
After our arrival in Mineralny Vody we drive to Adyrsu valley into Ullu Tau Camp.
Overnight
Day 2:
Visiting the area.
Days 3-6:
Depending on the weather and snow conditions are, we have planned the following full-day tours:
- Trek to Mestia hat
- Simniy mountaintop, 3466 M.
- Katia mountaintop, 4010 M.
- Koiavganaush Pass 3500 m.
These tours are taken for acclimatization and preparation for the ascent to Mount Elbrus.
Day 7:
Transfer to Baksan Valley to our hotel. Today's day is used to recover from the exertions of the past few days and gather strength for the following days. Baskan valley has many side valleys which lead to the most famous and most beautiful peaks of the Caucasus.
Overnight at Hotel Elba
Day 8:
Today we drive to Cheget station, from where we will climb up to Cheget peak (3,600 m). Our effort is rewarded by a spectacular view of Mount Elbrus, its two peaks and Baskan Valley.
Return to Terskol.
Day 9:
The transfer brings us today to Azau pumping station, 2440 M. From there we move to the Barrels Refuge at 3780 m.
Day 10:
For acclimatization we are climbing at Pastukhov rocks today. We practice once again dealing with the ice axe, crampons, and of course the walking on the rope.
Day 11:
Climbing to the summit of Mount Elbrus, depending on weather and snow conditions
Day 12:
Free time at the summit. Descend to Baksan Valley, Elba Hotel.
Day 13:
Transfer to Shkhelda camp. The "Shkhelda smile" Walking. Here in the camp, you can take down your heavy backpacks, take off your boots and you can walk barefoot on the soft sandy soil which is mixed with pine needles.
Day 14:
Transfer to Piatygorsk. Lunch in the cafe. Overnight at hotel.
Day 15:
Transfer to the airport Piatygorsk. Departure.
The price includes: - Accommodation in Hotel Elba in the Baksan Valley, 4 nights
- Accommodation in a camp in the Ullu Tau Adyr Su Valley, 6 nights
- Accommodation in Barrels Refuge, 3 nights
- Accommodation in a hotel in a tourist in Piatygorsk, 1 night
- Full board during the whole tour, except the farewell dinner in Piatygorsk
- Admission to the Prielbrusie National Park
- All transfers those are necessary for the tour
- TST guide
- Cooking by TST for Barrels Refuge
- Necessary formalities (visa support, border permission, passport registration)
The price does not include:
- International air tickets to Mineralny Vodny
- International air tickets from Piatygorsk
- Unexpected evacuation costs
- Porter for personal gear can be arranged on request
- Personal expenses, such as alcohol, etc.
- Visa
- Insurance
Recommended Equipment
Camping equipment:
- Sleeping bag, suitable for temperatures up to - 5 ° C
Outdoor Clothing
- Insulated parka or jacket made of downs or synthetics, suitable for temperatures down to -10 degrees Celsius, enough so that you can wear it over a number of other layers of sweaters
- Rain jacket and rain pants (side zippers are helpful), roomy and water
Clothes
- Fleece jacket medium weight
- Fleece pants or tights
- Thermal underwear medium weight
- Hiking pants / skirt
- Hiking shorts
- Long sleeve shirts / blouses
- T-Shirts
- Underwear
- Hiking socks
- Liner Socks
Shoes
- Walking shoes should be sturdy and support the ankle, waterproof, broken-in
- Camp shoes: running shoes or trail shoes, sneakers
Mountaineering equipment:
- Synthetic boots or crampon-compatible heavy leather hiking boots. Cold feet could force you to turn back or could lead to frostbite. We strongly recommend synthetic boots. The only but very important advantage of synthetic boots is that they dry easily in the open. If your leather boots will get wet on the first day, it is likely that they remain wet during the entire route. Wet shoes can cause problems. In many cases, leather boots are probably good enough, but it depends greatly on the model, the quality and the way how you treat them. We cannot judge this from distance and therefore we recommend synthetic boots. If you come with leather boots our guide will inspect them to see and if the may cause a problem, he will advise you to borrow synthetic boots. You have the right to reject the advice.
- Crampons
- Ice axe - An ice axe is sometimes not necessary. It depends on the current weather conditions (snow conditions). However the ice axe must be present, if their use should be necessary (your guide will advise you before the climbing begins).
- Protectors for ice axe and crampons, as the ropeways with which you go may be overcrowded and unprotected axe and crampons can cause damage.
- Headlight - The climbs start at night and for a few hours you walk in the darkness. In addition, head lamps at night are very useful when you need to visit a toilet in the huts.
- A large backpack or a bag that can be worn like a backpack. In the case that the 3rd Stage of the lift should be closed for any reason, you are compelled to bear your own personal gear to base camp on Mount Elbrus. Depending on your own walking speed that lasts up to 1 ½ hour.
- Thermos flask - Do not rely on a thermos flask, which is worn on your back with a drinking tube - the drinking tube (certainly) and the bottle may get frozen.
- Small backpack for hiking and climbing up summit
- Ski or trekking poles
- Wind protection mask in the case it will be cold winds.
- Climbing harness with a short piece of rope and 2 karabiners. This short rope serves you selves and provides a flexible connection with the main rope. It is not a "Prusik" to come out of a crevasse. We do not expect that the participants can use the special equipment to get out of a crevasse. It is more than enough if they can immediately put their short rope with karabiner on the main rope or any fixed point. If several people go at the rope, it makes it easier if not everybody is directly roped to the main rope, but they are roped up with the short rope to the main rope. The same applies if you climb along a fixed rope onto the mountain. It is easier if the main rope does not lead through a karabiner at the chest, but through the karabiner at the short rope. Our guide will customize the equipment for you before climbing and explain the use of it (A short training during acclimatisation hikes will make you familiar in dealing with the device). If you don't have own harness, rope and karabiner, we provide it before awakening free of charge for the regular participants of the tour.
Extra clothes:
- Sun hat
- Warm cap or hat
- Bandana
- Windproof fleece gloves
- Liner gloves
- Waterproof overcoat for the gloves to protect against snow
- Balaclava
- Knee-length snow gaiters (super gaiters, which cover the entire footwear excellent)
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Information about visa and entry regulations, health information and tips for equipment, see this link:
Things to know-1 -
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