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Caucasus, ascent of Mt. Elbrus /5642m/ from the South

Elbrus (5642m), the Europe tallest mountain.

Hiking nearby and the ascent.

    

       The Main Caucasian Ridge stretches for 1200 km from the West to the East, from the Black Sea to the Caspian. Its width reaches 180km, and it forms not only a geographical, but also ethnic and political barriers, separating Russia from the Caucasian region and its mosaic of nationalities. Greater Caucasus is traditionally divided into three regions: West Caucasus, Central and East Caucasus. The borders of these territories go along meridians that cross the Main Ridge over Mt.Elbrus (5642 m) in the West and Kazbek (5033 m) in the East. It is between these two giants that the most beautiful and interesting peaks stand, with more than forty of them surpassing the level of 4000m above the sea. It is here where seven caucasian fivethousanders arise their heads to the sky.

        Among variety of regions composing the Central Caucasus it is the Elbrus Region that is a genuine gem. In spite of that high altitudes, rarified air, changeable weather have scared people away from this region for ages, now it is the most frequently visited sport and recreation center on the Caucasus. Many lateral valleys go aside of the main one where river Baksan flows. They lead to famous peaks of the Caucasus, such as Donguz-Orun (4492m), head-turning walls of Shkhelda (4300m), Tchatyn (4368m) with its vertical 500m North Face, the legendary Ushba (4710m) and, of course, Mt.Elbrus (5642m), the highest summit of Europe which surpasses the pride of the Alps, Mt.Blanc, by more than 800m.

       The two-headed ice giant crowns the panorama of the Central Caucasus. It is by at least 1000m higher than all its neighbors. Volcano craters, filled now with ice and snow, form summit plateaux of 300-400m in diameter on both the tops. The Eastern Peak is a little lower than its western brother: 5621m and 5642m respectively. All the massif is covered by a gigantic ice cap.

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       However, summer 1999 one could observe an activity around this place. Construction work had been begun in the second building of the Priut which were standing destroyed since the WW-II epoch, and in summer 2000 it could already offer a shelter for several dozens mountaineers. Additionally some new huts appeared at a hundred meters above.<> 

  A cable lift, probably, also unique in the world, elevates sportsmen and tourists from Asau Meadow (2250m) to "Garabashi glacier" station (3750m). Its two lower pitches are equipped with cabins and the upper one is the chair lift. "Snow cats" are also available here.

       "Barrels" is name of another hotel situated just at the "Garabashi" station. Here a dozen of big metallic cylinders lying horizontally provides a comfortable and warm enough refuge with electric light for some 60 persons. All these hotels as well as tents installed in vicinities of the former Priut serve as Base Camp for training on the Pastukhov Rocks (4650m) or for summit attempts.

       Baksan valley and the Elbrus vicinities are easily reachable from Mineralnye Vody (Mineral Waters) airport, which is connected to valleys of the Northern Caucasus through a network of roads. 

Mount Elbrus--18,510"
by Steve Bonowski on Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:02 am

Our CMC expedition to Mt. Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe. /more/

  

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