Two Summits of Elbrus

Two Summits of Elbrus
Height (m)

5642

Duration

9 days

Difficulty

Low

$848.00

Why should you choose us to guide your Elbrus climb to both of its summits? First off, because you are going to entrust our guides to care for your very own life and health. Unfortunately, accidents do happen in the mountains, and having reliable people to safeguard and take care of you is crucial.

Our hotel and our refuge on Elbrus slope – along with our own equipment and outfit rental (the newest and biggest on Elbrus foothill) – are all designed to provide for your high profile and safe rest.

All expeditions mentioned in Schedule and Services section are available upon request, regardless of the number of climbers in group.

We offer also programs for family vacation – rest and recreation for your family members while you are busy climbing Mount Elbrus.

Participants:

About the tour

An Elbrus climb to both of its summits is usually preferred by people who strive to accomplish all their endeavors in order to eliminate any understatement, or by people eager to experience as much of the world as possible.
Indeed, East and West summits of Elbrus differ substantially, and both of them offer quite different views from their tops. However, this is not a reason to overestimate oneself: standing on one of the summits’ top rare climbers can find psychological and physical recourses to venture for the other summit right away. Most climbers think only about getting back to the refuge as soon as possible to get some hot soup and internet.
Anyway, it makes more sense to spend another 2–3 hours to climb the other summit right away, from the Saddle (with an altitude gain of as little as 300 m) than from the refuge at the distance of 2000m. This way you will avoid the feeling of understated accomplishment.

9-day Schedule for a Guided Climb to Both Elbrus Summits from the South

Day 1. Landing at Mineralnye Vody airport – preferably before 3 PM. Taking a 200km (3-hour) ride to hotel, situated in the beginning of the 100km Baksan valley, almost on the slope of Mt. Elbrus. Meeting and having dinner with the guide.
 Day 2. Morning acclimatization hike to Maid’s Braids waterfall (at 2700m) and further on, to the observatory (at 3100m).
Day 3. Morning acclimatization hike to Cheget.
Day 4. Taking a lift to the refuge and setting up there. After a snack, making an acclimatization hike to an elevation of 4400m, till the end of the ridge. Overnight stay in the huts.
Day 5. An acclimatization hike to Pastukhov’s Rocks (at 4700m).
Day 6. Rest day. Final preparations for summiting Elbrus.
Day 7. Climbing Mount Elbrus’s West summit (5642m) and East summit (5621m). This succession of summits can be changed with the guide’s and other group members’ consent. The day begins with an early start (at 2–4 AM). It is possible to use a Snowcat. The proportion of guides and clients is strictly 1:3.
Day 8. Reserve day. Descent to hotel.
Day 9. Transfer from Terskol to the airport at 7 AM (plan your flight with this in mind!). Probably there will be some time for a walk in Pyatigorsk after you reach the airport and leave your luggage there. On your own, you can visit also the well-known Russian poet Lermontov’s duel site.

To give you peace of mind, the package tours we offer, as a rule, include all expenses you may face.

Included in the cost of Elbrus climb:

  • Mountain guides: one leading guide for the program of Elbrus South to North traverse and several assistants for the day of summiting, with a strict proportion of one guide per three climbers. This means that if there are four clients in a group, there will be two guides for them. We have no limitation of attempts for the group to summit. However, if part of the group made it to the summit while some members failed to, summiting is considered successful, and any additional attempts are made for additional payment.
  • Services of a cook.
  • Hotel with accommodation in double and triple rooms. Duration of stay depends on the schedule.
  • Accommodation in huts. Duration of stay depends on the schedule of Elbrus climb.
  • All transfers mentioned in the itinerary (including lifts) – from and to airport / station.
  • Meals three times a day throughout the trip. Dinner on the first day, breakfast – on the last.
  • All required permits and registrations.
  • Equipment for the group (ropes, ice screws, radios, first aid set, satellite navigators/GPS).

Not included in the cost of Elbrus climb:

  • Snowcat on summiting day
  • Single accommodation
  • Personal equipment
  • Any deviations to the original schedule.

List of equipment  for climbing mount Elbrus from the South:

Documents

  • Valid passport
  • Airline tickets
  • Voucher (a form, which was sent to you for obtaining visa)
  • Insurance

Personal equipment

  • Backpack
  • Sleeping bag
  • Ski/treking poles
  • Crampons
  • Ice axe
  • Harness
  • 2 Carabines
  • 2 meters of 5 or 6-10mm rope

Clothing and shoes.

  • Wind and waterproof layer – Pants and Jacket. Gore-Tex, for example.
  • Fleece pants and jacket
  • Thermo underwear layer – top and bottom
  • Dawn jacket.
  • Mittens
  • Thick gloves
  • Thin gloves
  • Bandana
  • Warm hat
  • Underwear, socks and so on
  • Some warm socks for a summit day
  • Balaclava
  • Windproof face mask
  • Gators
  • Jogging shoes or hiking boots
  • Double or triple boots

Travel Accessories

  • Headlamp
  • Shower accessories, toothpaste, toothbrush
  • Sunglasses
  • Ski goggles
  • Vitamins
  • Thermos (1 liter, better without button)
  • Sunblock and lip balm
  • Personal medical kit
  • Spare contact lenses or glasses
  • Knee supports

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