Climbing Elbrus in November. Summer solo ascent to Elbrus (5642 m). The tour price does not include

Our team consisted of 5 participants. Ermachek Yuri (instructor-guide), Ivanov Vladimir (Ekaterinburg), Frolova Olga (Perm), Zuev Andrey (Nizhnevartovsk) and Nosov Mikhail (Dzerzhinsk).

November 4 The trio Ermachek Yuri, Frolova Olga and Ivanov Vladimir left Yekaterinburg by train "Sverdlovsk-Kislovodsk" and on the third day, November 7, we arrived at the Ministry of Water. At the railway station we were met by a crowd of intermediary taxi drivers, offering us a ride to Terskol for 2-2.5 thousand rubles. But we are in no hurry, we bought first return tickets and then a taxi driver was found who agreed to take us to Terskol for 1,500 rubles. We load into the car and drive to the Central Market, where we buy products necessary for the period of our acclimatization and ascent. Having purchased everything we need, we leave the Ministry of Waters for Terskol. The road to Terskol took 3.5 hours, there was nothing remarkable on the road, except for the fact that at each traffic police checkpoint the taxi driver gave 50 rubles. Earned money yourself, help the police too. If there has not been snow yet in MinVody, then in Terskol it is already winter, a lot of snow has fallen. We unload and after half an hour we find a 2-room comfortable apartment that can comfortably accommodate six of us. Each room has three beds, a TV, and most importantly, hot water.

We take a hot shower and wait for our fourth participant, Mikhail Nosov, he gets from Dzerzhinsk to Terskol in his car. We park it and all go to the cafe together. We had to wander around for half an hour before we found it open cafe, the rest are closed, it’s not the season yet. Here in a cafe, I meet with my old friend, together with him we climbed to the top of Elbrus East in 2000 - it was Abu Mukhadin - a rescuer of the Ministry of Emergency Situations and an excellent guide. He knew Mikhailov San Sanych very well, my coach from the Army Sports Club of the Urals Military District, who disappeared last year in bad weather while climbing Elbrus. The search continued for a year, but it did not yield any results. In the person of Abu, we acquire an experienced adviser and assistant on all issues related to ascension. We drink beer and eat perfectly cooked lamb. We couldn’t resist trying the local cognac and liked it.

November 8. To Cheget. We slept well, had breakfast and went towards Cheget. In half an hour we reached its foot and began a slow ascent. The weather is cloudy, but the sun sometimes peeks through, and there is a strong wind on the ridge. There is a lot of snow on the slope, we make our way through the snowdrifts. Two hours later we reach the first cable car station, where the Ai cafe is located. Here we relax and have lunch. We start up again, but after half an hour of ascent we turn down. Olga has a headache, Mikhail has wet shoes. We send them down on the cable car, and we ourselves, with Volodya, go down on foot. On the way, from Cheget to Terskol, we visit a market where they sell high-quality and cheap woolen items and buy face masks. Today the wind was blowing so strong that my face was freezing. While we were storming Cheget, Andrei Zuev flew to the MinVody and by evening the whole team was assembled. We go to dinner together at a cafe.

November 9. On the "barrels". We slept well and got up at 7.30. We collected our backpacks and selected food for 2 days.. We go to the Ministry of Emergency Situations, where I register my group. We wait for Abu and rent the missing equipment from him. We load into the UAZ and drive to Azau. Today is Thursday and there are few skiers, we get into the trailer and go up to the KRUGOZOR station and then to the MIR station. The weather and visibility today are excellent, but the wind is very strong. In 1.5 hours we climb the barrels, where the administrator Zhora puts us in a trailer with a heater, light and six beds. There is a separate trailer where there is a dining room with an installed gas stove. After having a snack and drinking tea, we go upstairs for a walk to the Shelter. We went back down at 18:00, it was already dark. The altitude takes its toll and everyone gets a headache. Olga and Mikhail immediately climb into their sleeping bags, and we go to prepare dinner. That night I can’t sleep very well; the wind shakes the trailer all night.

10th of November. On the Pastukhov rocks. The weather is great, but the wind doesn't subside. It's frosty. After breakfast, we go upstairs. Today, according to our plan, for acclimatization, we reach the Pastukhov rocks. We reach the Shelter in two hours, here, on the right rock ridge, we rest and drink tea in the hut of the Ministry of Emergency Situations. Olga’s feet are frozen and her cheeks are frozen and she goes down, and we continue our way up and safely reach the Pastukhov rocks. By 18:00 we go down to the barrels; it gets dark very early in November. We have dinner, read, play cards and go to bed. Everyone is tired and sleeping better. Stormy winds again all night.

11th of November. Descent to Terskol. In the morning we drink tea and coffee. We collect our backpacks. We leave some things for storage in the trailer. The weather today is very warm, the wind has died down and there is no visibility, it is snowing. In half an hour we go down to the MIR station, another half hour and we are in Terskol, at the apartment, take a shower and go drink beer and have lunch. We wanted to go to a disco in the evening, but everything was closed, it was not the season.

November 12. Rest day in Terskol. Mikhail leaves in the morning to ride a board, and the rest leave for the village. Elbrus, visit the Vysotsky Museum. We have lunch in a cafe on Cheget. We drink mulled wine and eat kebabs. We return to the apartment and prepare for tomorrow’s climb up, already for the ascent, to Elbrus.

the 13th of November. On the "barrels". We slept well, had breakfast and it turned out that Olga had a sore throat. We leave her in Terskol, and the four of us go up. The weather is bad, there is no visibility and there is a snowstorm with strong winds above the MIR station. We make our way to the barrels and move into our trailer. We play cards and read until the evening.

November 14. On barrels. A snow storm raged all night, and it did not subside during the day. There is so much snow that it takes half an hour to fight your way to the toilet, which is only 20 meters. Today, according to the plan, we were supposed to climb to the Shelter in order to storm Elbrus at night, but going up is pointless, the snowstorm is such that we can’t see anything. We play cards and read all day again. We'll find out the forecast for the next two days via communication; it turned out to be disappointing. Tomorrow there will be a slight improvement, and the day after tomorrow there will be another snowstorm. We decide that this is our chance to go down normally; the mountain clearly won’t let us in.

15th of November. Descent to Terskol. The forecast came true. The wind is not so strong, so after collecting our backpacks and tidying up the trailer, we head down. Elbrus is not visible and we have no chance of climbing it. But the mountain stands and will stand, the main thing is that everyone is alive and well, no one got frozen. We celebrate our successful descent in a cafe on Cheget.

November 16. Terskol. We have a day of rest. Mikhail went boarding. Olga and Volodya went for a walk, and Andrey and I decided to go to the Observatory. Another climb along the snow-covered slopes to the ridge, height 2700 meters and we turn back, a snowstorm began again. We go down to Terskol and book a sauna at the Wolfram Hotel for the evening. We had a great time steaming and relaxing.

November 17. Departure. In the morning we rent out the apartment and go down to MinVody on a Gazelle. The train is at 11 pm, so there is nothing left to do but go to the local cinema.
On November 20, all Elbrusiad participants returned home safely.

Useful information on prices in the Caucasus:
Taxi from MinVod to Terskol - 1500 rubles;
2-room apartment - 250 rub. per person;
One stage of the lift - 80 rubles. ;
Accommodation on barrels - 400 rubles. per person;
From Terskol to Azau - 25 rubles. per person
Gazelle Terskol - MinVody - 300 rub.

The best time to climb Elbrus is from mid-May to October.
Daylight hours are longer and the weather is more stable and much warmer..

Confession
users

In the middle of July current year I decided to fulfill my relatively recent dream: to climb the highest peak of Russia, the Caucasus and all of Europe, as part of the world, Mount Elbrus, whose height is 5642 m above sea level

The idea to climb Elbrus arose after last July I visited the peak of Kazbek (5033 m), another five-thousander in the Caucasus. Moreover, from the top of Kazbek we even managed to see Elbrus itself, and this despite the significant distance of almost 200 km between them!

Then I really didn’t think that I would go to Elbrus in splendid isolation. But, nevertheless, I decided to climb alone. The main advantages of solo climbing and traveling in general: you don’t depend on anyone, and no one depends on you. All decisions are made by you alone and only for yourself. There is, of course, incredible freedom in this.

True, climbing alone is considered more dangerous than in a group, especially when it comes to technical issues. difficult routes. Elbrus is not considered a technically difficult mountain to climb; its difficulty is rated as 2A (according to the classic route). There are more than two hundred routes to climb the peaks, many of which are designed for beginners, while others are for experienced professionals.

I climbed the classic, most popular route from the south. Despite the fact that the classic route is considered not difficult, you need to understand that all these difficulty categories are designed for professional athletes, that is, for an ordinary untrained person, even a route of the 2nd difficulty category will definitely not seem simple.

Therefore, I do not recommend taking my story as a guide to action for people who have no experience of mountain hiking and mountain climbing. Although for me Elbrus is only the second five-thousander, after Kazbek, I still had already at that time sufficient experience walking in the mountains (at least that’s what I think)

Therefore, once again, if you want to climb to the top of Elbrus, and you have no experience in climbing at all, then it is better to join some group with an experienced guide. We must not forget that mountains are an area of increased danger and they do not forgive mistakes.

There are several options for how to get to the Elbrus region and Elbrus itself, the main ones are to get to Mineralnye Vody by train or by plane or by train or by plane to Nalchik. I chose the option with the train to Nalchik, since it seemed to me the most attractive of all.

The train from Moscow arrives at Nalchik station around eight in the morning. While still in the carriage, I met tourists from Ryazan, who, like me, also intended to wander around the Elbrus region, although their route was different from mine. However, after getting off the train, we teamed up to get to the village of Cheget by public taxi, so to speak.

A car from Nalchik to Terskol costs about 2000 rubles, but since there were five of us it was quite affordable in my opinion, 400 rubles each. per person.

Travel time to Terskol is no more than three hours.

Having arrived in Terskol, I still had to get to the neighboring village of Azau. Without thinking twice, I decided to cover this path on foot, although I had a large, heavy backpack with me.

Having quickly checked into the hotel, it was called Premier Azau, the first thing I did was decide to take a little rest from the road.

Having rested a little, I immediately had the idea to rise to 3500 m above sea level in order to look at the surroundings from greater heights)

Despite the fact that I slept well the first night, in the morning I didn’t feel very good, my head ached a little. I decided that the “high altitude” had already begun to affect the body, although the altitude was only 2350 m above sea level, which means that according to the idea there should be no signs of the miner’s disease, but they were already there, albeit in a rather weak form. Or maybe I just rushed in vain on the first day upon arrival to 3500 m, I had such a great desire to immediately go higher, even if only for a short time on the cable car)

The next day I decided to make an acclimatization trip to Mount Cheget and reach at least 3000 m above sea level. I already described this day of my hike in my photo album, for those who haven’t looked yet, here’s the link:

In general, almost everyone makes a trip to Cheget to acclimatize before climbing Elbrus itself, so for me this was no exception.

On the third day, I decided that it was time to climb Elbrus itself. In terms of equipment, I was missing some things, and I rented them from one of the Azau offices. Although, here I will give you important information, in fact, it turned out that in Azau itself there are not many rental offices that rent climbing equipment, nevertheless, they are there, at least one of them is located near the entrance to the new cable car. So you can equip yourself there; the prices seemed quite reasonable to me. Actually, I only rented trekking boots, crampons, gloves (warm gloves that are worn over thinner ones) and a sleeping bag. And so is the range of alps for rent. trekking gear and equipment there is quite large, so you can find almost everything. The only thing is that when you rent some equipment, in addition to a certain amount of money, you will be asked to leave some document as collateral: a general passport, an international passport, a driver’s license

After leaving the rental office, I immediately headed to the line of the old cable car, built during the USSR. Keep in mind that during the high season (especially in July-August) there may be queues to board the cable car in the morning, although the wait is usually not long

As I already mentioned, I climbed on an old cable car built during the USSR. On the right in the photo you can see the queue of the new cable car. What is the difference between the old and new cable car you ask? The difference in price between the old and new cable car is approximately two times! The old cable car costs 500 rubles round trip to the Mir station, which is 3500 m. The speed on the new cable car is slightly higher than on the old one, but the old one is considered more reliable, even despite its venerable age) Nevertheless, The new cable car has one advantage, which is that highest point it is slightly higher compared to the line of the old cable car. However, when I was in Azau, the new cable car was operating only up to an altitude of 3500 m (Mir station), while its section up to 3850 m to the Gora-Bashi station was under repair

The first stage of the cable car the road is coming to an altitude of 3000 m and reaches the Stary Kruzor station. The second stage of the cable car starts from the Stary Krugozor station and goes to the Mir station (3500 m). There is a cozy cafe “Mir” on the territory of the station. Having risen to 3500 m to the Mir station, I decided to rest a little and take a walk around the outskirts of this station. In general, the Mir station is very popular among tourists and during the season it is almost always crowded. Near the Mir station there are many good areas from which excellent panoramic views of the mountains open, including Elbrus itself, but, of course, only in good clear weather

The Elbrus chairlift operates on the 3rd stage.
The Elbrus chairlift starts from the Mir station (3500 m) and goes to the Gara-Bashi station (3850 m). The single chair lift, although old, works stably. From here, from an altitude of 3800 m, certified route No. 1 begins to the Azau clearing 2300 m.
There is also a network of towing and towing roads.
There are plans to build the fourth stage - up to the Priyut Eleven station (4100 m)

Please note that the last 3rd queue chairlift works only until 15.00, although looking ahead I will say that in situations when it is necessary to bring down crowds of climbers from Elbrus, as an exception, sometimes they extend the operating time of this segment of the cable car, but it is better not to rely on this.

The price on the last 3rd section of the chairlift is only 100 rubles per person one way. If you have a large backpack, then there are two options: 1st, you have to pay the same 100 rubles for it and then it will go in a separate seat, 2nd option, if you want to save 100 rubles then you can sit on the same chair together with a backpack, holding it straight in front of you. If the backpack is really big and heavy, I still advise you to lean towards option No. 1)

When you ride the chairlift from the Mir station, along the way you can see in the immediate vicinity traces of the former volcanic activity of Elbrus (Elbrus is actually a volcano, and not just a mountain)

Finally you arrive at an altitude of 3800 m above sea level, this is the Gara-Bashi station.

After walking literally a few tens of meters from the cable car, you will be able to see the following picture:

That is, immediately near the final point of the old cable car there is a “parking lot” of snowcats and snowmobiles, on which you can continue your journey further. Price: snowcat 1000 rubles per person up to an altitude of 4500 m above sea level, provided there is a group of 10 people. In season good weather There are no problems with this, the group is recruited quite quickly.

Initially, I wanted to reach it on foot, but since I had a heavy backpack and did not have proper acclimatization to this altitude, I still decided to get to Shelter 11 by snowcat. There is one additional difficulty in walking up to an altitude of approximately 4500 m on the glaciers of Elbrus. In the summer, this entire glaciated area thaws significantly, so much so that, without any exaggeration, you will have to walk almost ankle-deep in wet, sticky snow. Well, if you carry a heavy backpack of 20 kilograms, or even more, then you understand how difficult it will all be. Therefore, I recommend not to strain yourself at least at this stage and pay for a snowcat, unless, of course, you also choose Shelter 11 as your main location. There is also the “Bochki” shelter, which is located very close to the third line of the chairlift. In principle, you can move into them, but you need to take into account the fact that when the time comes to storm the summit of Elbrus itself, you will need to follow two scenarios.

1st option: again use a snowcat to take you to a height of 4800 m (the end of the Pastukhov rocks), or 2nd option: walk the whole way straight from “Barrels” to the top. The first option is usually used by organized commercial groups that go under the guidance of a mountain guide. As far as I remember, each participant is charged at least 4000 rubles for a snowcat before climbing to 4800 m.

Not many people choose the second option, although there are those too. This option is suitable only for those who are very confident in their own strength, and you need to have very good endurance and have a level of training above average in order to reach the coveted peak.

Yes, by the way, I can highlight another 3rd option, the most extreme.

If you have a tent, and you do not want to stay in any shelters, then you can put up a tent somewhere in the area of 4500 m above sea level, or lower, on the “Rescuer Rocks” or higher: on the “Pastukhov Rocks”

The third option will also be good for those who already have good acclimatization to altitudes above 4500 m

So okay, in the meantime I loaded onto the snowcat and moved on it towards Shelter 11. Along the way we met numerous groups of mountaineering tourists moving towards the top

After quickly checking into Shelter 11, having rested a little, I realized that there was still time to train to climb even higher. Having quickly gathered myself, I set off for the first acclimatization trip on Elbrus itself.

In the photo “Shelter 11” on the left, on the right of the photo you can see the “Memorial to Climbers”. According to average statistics, about 20 people die annually on Elbrus

Meanwhile, I continued my way up. I didn’t have a specific task to which height was best to rise to, and that day I decided to act according to the situation

In general, on the first day I only managed to reach 4500 m above sea level, that is, gain about 400 m of altitude or a little more. It's quite normal for the first time

On the second day the weather worsened somewhat, or rather, before lunch it was quite bearable, but after lunch it became more windy and cloudiness began to increase

During the second acclimatization trip I managed to reach 4800 m above sea level, this is already higher than good famous rocks Pastukhova. In this place there is, as it were, a small canopy of a flat area. I spent about half an hour or a little more at this altitude. In fact, it is important to spend more time at the top point of your path in order to better consolidate the result of “this height” for your body. In principle, there was an opportunity to rise even higher, that is, to gain at least another 200 meters in altitude, but... the fairly strong wind that accompanied me that day almost immediately after leaving Shelter 11 constantly tended to intensify. As soon as I reached the peak at 4800 m, the wind reminded itself with renewed vigor; it felt like it was about 15-20 m/s with gusts up to 25 m/s. So I decided to stop at this place, rest a little, take some photos beautiful panoramas mountains

By the end of that day the weather began to deteriorate, and Elbrus put on his “hat”

The next day, according to the plan, I was supposed to just storm the summit, but alas... there was no good weather. It snowed at night, and in the morning the whole sky was overcast. I decided to wait one day, but the next day the same situation. Many who were at the Shelter decided to go downstairs for now, and then, as soon as the weather improved, to return here again. I also decided to do the same, although for me this approach was completely new. But, as I understand, some people do just that: they acclimatize to the required heights, then descend to civilization in Azau, rest there for a while, then rise again and immediately storm the summit the very next day. I didn’t know that such an approach even existed, although if the weather is good, then I don’t see the point in following such a concept of climbing, why go down if you can immediately climb to the top? As for me, I nevertheless also followed this path, but it was a necessary measure due to bad weather mostly.

Having descended to Azau, I had to wait four whole days for good weather, and only on the fifth day did I return to the slope of Elbrus again. Remember I told you about what options there are when you get to the top point of the cable car?

So, in the end, I chose the 3rd one, that is, the most extreme of all. That is, I, together with a group of ordinary tourists, rode a snowcat to an altitude of 4500 m (there is a small Observation deck) and then, under his own power, he gained another 100-150 meters in height and pitched a tent in the lower part of the Pastukhov rocks.

Here the WHY immediately arises? Why did I even have to go down this rather extreme path? These days, when I was waiting for good weather, on one of them, when the weather was still more or less normal, I went along the route to the waterfalls at the “Girl’s Braids”. On the way I met a couple of no longer young women, well, we somehow got into a conversation, I told They say that if a few days ago I was on Elbrus, that I’m waiting for the weather for a new attempt to climb to the top. And one of the women turned out to be an experienced climber. She advised me to start the assault on the summit at least from the Pastukhov rocks. Without thinking twice, I eventually leaned towards this option. What are the advantages: in fact, you will need to walk less to the very top, since from the Pastukhov rocks it is much closer to the top than from the same “Shelter 11”, not to mention the “Bochki” shelter. Another plus, as it seemed to me, being at such a significant altitude, I thought in this way I would improve my not very good acclimatization. Many people believe that in order to start climbing to the very top of Elbrus, you need to reach at least the beginning of the so-called “Oblique shelf” at 5100 m. I did not climb higher than 4800 m.

What are the disadvantages: the main disadvantage is the level of comfort; it would certainly be much more comfortable to spend the night at Shelter 11 than in a tent. Another significant disadvantage was that there are very few good sites under a tent, and there are often strong winds there at night. But I knew that the weather during the coming night and day would be good, although it must be borne in mind that forecasts do not always come true.

In the meantime, as soon as I reached the lower part of the Pastukhov rocks, I began to look for a site for a tent. I found it pretty quickly and started setting up the tent. I spent a lot of time fiddling with this activity. Luckily for me, in conscience with my tent, the guys also set up a tent for themselves. I asked them for a lapata to strengthen the perimeter of my tent. By the way, it is very important to strengthen the tent properly, especially in places where strong winds are frequent.

And here is my tent, which will serve as my shelter for the coming night.

View from the tent of the Pastukhov rocks and the Eastern peak of Elbrus. It's not until sunset more than an hour

We had to spend several hours in limited comfort in a tent. In general, I went a little overboard with the snow covering the tent; I threw so much snow around the perimeter that the area of the tent decreased under the pressure of the snow mass. Well, okay, but now my tent can’t handle a strong wind. I immediately laid out my sleeping bag, insulated myself as much as possible and dived into it. In general, it was still a little cold for me alone in the tent. As soon as it got dark, the wind picked up and it shook the “walls” of my tent quite a bit; it was impossible to sleep in such conditions, although I already knew that I wouldn’t sleep properly. I couldn't even take a nap. In the meantime, I was waiting for one in the morning, after this milestone, I slowly began to get ready to storm the summit. At about 1.30 am I went for the assault.

That night and that day there was simply an incredible number of people who wanted to climb to the top. Of course, everyone has been waiting for good weather for several days already)

At first it was very difficult, it seemed that I was walking very slowly. I think I walked the section of the Pastukhov rocks for at least an hour, reaching the peak at 4800 m, I rested a little. Meanwhile, an incredible movement of snowcats began in this place, which brought several groups of mountaineering tourists at once. In general, the section between 4800 m and 5100 m was for some reason the most difficult for me. The climb to these 300 m in altitude lasted, as it seemed to me, an infinitely long time. By the way, the steepness of the slope here is quite significant (or rather, it is not very significant in principle, but if you take the entire route to the top, then in this section, yes, it is significant)

In addition, for the first three hours after the start of the assault on the summit there was a strong cold wind, which made it very difficult to move forward.

Nevertheless, gradually I reached the “Oblique Shelf”, this is an altitude of 5100 m above sea level. In general, the “Oblique Shelf” is considered the most dangerous section of the trek on the way to the top of Elbrus. Personally, it didn’t seem like that to me, although in conditions of poor visibility and strong wind yes, this section will indeed pose a certain danger, since you can easily fly down the slope from the “Slant Shelf”. Yes, the path on the “Slant Shelf” is really narrow, you always have to let someone pass

On the “Slant Shelf” I just saw the dawn. Just look how beautiful it is

Dates of ascents to Elbrus

When booking tours for 2020 before October 31, 2019, a discount of 8% is provided, for 2 or more people 10%.

Why is it convenient and comfortable with us?

By purchasing a tour from usyou can be sure that it will take place and the services will be provided in full: in accordance with Russian legislationour company is includedin the Register of Tour Operators of Russia(registration numberRTO 016287), for participation in which, according to current requirements, we annually insure ourliability for failure to fulfill or improper fulfillment of its obligations to clients;

Organized maximum safety of participants: All groups are registered with the Ministry of Emergency Situations, direct contacts with medical institutions And duty of professional health workers in our alpine camps and mountain shelters; for each guide on the day of ascent there are no more than 3 clients ( which is very important!) ;

We offer full service : the price of our tours to Elbrus includes all transfers (not just locals), accommodation(not assistance in hotel bookings)V comfortable hotels (and not in frozen tents), full 3 meals a day during the ascent, including cook servicesand porters for lifting food and public equipment ( not consultations independent purchase products and their further preparation);

We offer unique high-altitude acclimatization program, during which you make an intermediate overnight stay at the Chiper Azau hotel at an altitude of 3000 meters, which is very important for starting the body’s adaptation processes to the decrease in oxygen content and partial pressure when climbing; used by many companies, the climb from the hotel at an altitude of 2000-2200 meters directly to the assault shelter at an altitude of 3700-4000 meters with a climb of 1500-2000 meters per day leads to deterioration of health(headache, insomnia) in almost all participants and refusal to further climb in 5-10% of participants;

All Arrival dates guaranteed (the ascent will take place even if there is 1 participant in the group);

On the site The maximum prices for our tours are indicated (they will not become higher when recruiting a small number of people in groups);

We offer tours to Elbrus all year round, from January to December;

During the summer Our groups arrive daily (!) ;

Available to our clients ability to choose comfort level(tours "Standard", "Comfort" and "VIP"), while the level of comfort in tours of the "Standard" category exceeds most similar offers in this price segment;

Probability of successfully reaching the summit as part of our groups significantly higher than in low-budget groups, where you will have to purchase and lift food, fuel and kitchen equipment yourself, as well as cook, wash dishes and carry accumulated garbage instead of the rest you need;

You can extend your holiday in the Elbrus region And without additional payments to use our transfer any day departure of our groups (daily in the summer months); if necessary we We will help you book hotel roomsat prices no higher than the rates of the accommodation facilities themselves, since we always have the necessary supply of rooms;

We provide some of the better conditions residence(in the south - the hotels "Snow Leopard" and "Chiper Azau", mountain shelters "Liprus" and "Heart of Elbrus"; in the north - the hotels "Le Bristol", "Skala" and "Grace", as well as our own, the most modern and spacious alpine camps, equipped with all amenities, including a bathhouse and a volleyball court);

You are offered the best taste and most varied food(there is a vegetarian and gluten-free menu), which is prepared from natural products by our experienced chefs

In our mixed international groups you can practice foreign languages And get acquainted with interesting people from different countries ;

If you wish to use a snowcat on the night of the ascent, favorable prices are available to you(the “Heart of Elbrus” shelter is the largest in the southern Elbrus region and in the summer snow groomers depart from it almost every day; you will not have to pay 20-30 thousand rubles if there are 2-3 people in your group and there is no one to join);

When climbing Elbrus from the north, you can climb the Western peak (5642 m) without additional fee;

In the absence of your own personal equipment you can use our rentals, working in Kislovodsk and Cheget according to attractive prices and With additional discount for Elbrus Tours clients;

Experienced, attentive and result-oriented guides work with you; for each guide on the day of ascent there is no more than 3 clients, which not only increases the safety of climbing, but also increases your chances of a successful climb.

We will make your trip to Elbrus comfortable and safe!

Dates for climbing Elbrus in 2019

Climbing Elbrus from the south, 8 days

Tour cost: 44,000.0 rub. (if you arrive at the hotel on your own on the day the tour starts - 42000.0 rub.)

Tour dates: 20.10 - 27.10, 26.11 - 03.12

Dates for climbing Elbrus in 2020

Climbing Elbrus from the north, 10 days

Tour costs : Standard - 55,000.00 rub. (shortened tour from day 2 to day 9 - 51,000.00 rub.), Comfort* - 75,000.0 rub.

* - as part of the Comfort tour, individual transfers from and to the airport are provided, accommodation in single rooms at the hotel, in a comfortable 4-bed hut with a TV and a bathroom in the room in the Base Camp and in separate 2-bed compartments of the best shelters in the Assault Camp

April May
24.04 - 03.05

29.05 - 07.06

June

05.06 - 14.06
12.06 - 21.06
19.06 - 28.06
26.06 - 05.07

July

03.07 - 12.07
10.07 - 19.07
17.07 - 26.07
24.07 - 02.08

August

31.07 - 09.08
07.08 - 16.08
14.08 - 23.08
21.08 - 30.08
28.08 - 06.09

September

04.09 - 13.09
11.09 - 20.09
18.09 - 27.09
25.09 - 04.10

October
02.10 - 11.10

Climbing Elbrus from the north, 11 days:

Tour cost: Standard - RUB 59,900.00. (shortened tour from day 2 to day 10 - 54,900.00 rub.), Comfort - 82,000.0 rub.

June

01.06 - 11.06
08.06 - 18.06
15.06 - 25.06
22.06 - 02.07

July

29.06 - 09.07
06.07 - 16.07
13.07 - 23.07
20.07 - 30.07

August

27.07 - 06.08
03.08 - 13.08
10.08 - 20.08
17.08 - 27.08

Climbing Elbrus from the south, 8 days.

Tour "Standard": 45,000.0 rub. / Tour "Comfort"*: 65,000.0 rub.

* -Due to the small number of seats at this rate, reservations are made upon request

April May
19.04 - 26.04
26.04 - 03.05

17.05 - 24.05

June

31.05 - 07.06
07.06 - 14.06
11.06 - 18.06
14.06 - 21.06
18.06 - 25.06
21.06 - 28.06
25.06 - 02.07
28.06 - 05.07
30.06 - 07.07

July

02.07 - 09.07
04.07 - 11.07
05.07 - 12.07
07.07 - 14.07
09.07 - 16.07
11.07 - 18.07
12.07 - 19.07
14.07 - 21.07
16.07 - 23.07
18.07 - 25.07
19.07 - 26.07
21.07 - 28.07
23.07 - 30.07
25.07 - 01.08
26.07 - 02.08
28.07 - 04.08
30.07 - 06.08

August

01.08 - 08.08
02.08 - 09.08
04.08 - 11.08
06.08 - 13.08
08.08 - 15.08
09.08 - 16.08
11.08 - 18.08
13.08 - 20.08
15.08 - 22.08
20.08 - 27.08
22.08 - 29.08
30.08 - 06.09

September

06.09 - 13.09
13.09 - 20.09
20.09 - 27.09
27.09 - 04.10

October November

04.10 - 11.10
11.10 - 18.10
18.10 - 25.10
26.11 - 03.12 In descent to Elbrus from the north is suitable for lovers of virgin nature, unspoiled by civilization, for those who want to experience themselves alone with hills, stones, winds and eternal snow. There are not paved roads everywhere on the northern slope of Elbrus, there are no hotels (not counting mountain shelters) and lifts. You have to go through the entire route - from beginning to end - yourself, and this makes climbing Elbrus from the north more interesting and prestigious. It was along the northern slope that the very first ascent of Elbrus was made more than 190 years ago.

Climbing Elbrus Suga (by class) global route)

Climbing Elbrus from the south is the most popular route. Here you can meet travelers from almost all corners of the world. This route is not difficult and can be done by anyone with average physical fitness. The entire ascent takes from 8 to 10 days. The group spends the first two or three days at the foot of Elbrus (2200 m) and makes simple acclimatization walks. Then the climbers, together with all their equipment, climb up the cable car to an altitude of 3800 m, where it is located alpine shelter, which will become their home for the next 3 to 4 days. Here they will live and get used to the heights, and it is from here that they will make their decisive assault on the mountain for which they came.

Climbing Elbrus is done in special mountain boots, crampons and an ice ax, which can be rented. During the acclimatization process, the guide will conduct special classes to teach climbers how to move in crampons on snow and ice and how to use an ice ax.

We offer fixed dates for climbing Elbrus. This means that the tour will take place no matter how full the group is, even if only one person confirms their participation. Therefore, you can join us at any time, choosing the most convenient travel dates for yourself.

Climbing Elbrus for beginners is not technically difficult. Difficulty category 1B according to the mountaineering classification - which means that climbing Elbrus for novice climbers is a feasible task. Its gentle slopes are suitable for anyone with good physical fitness. The main difficulty in climbing Elbrus lies in the altitude, where thin air and reduced atmospheric pressure can cause development mountain sickness.Therefore, the main key to a successful climb to Elbrus is proper acclimatization. Our climbing programs from the south and north sides Elbrus provides for optimal acclimatization with a gradual increase in altitude, which will allow the body to most effectively adapt to high-altitude conditions.

Since the slopes of Elbrus are covered with glaciers and eternal snow, the ascent is made in mountaineering crampons, with an ice ax and safety system– to ensure complete safety. Before the ascent, a training session is held, during which they practice moving with crampons on a snow and ice slope, self-restraint when falling with an ice ax, and working with a rope.

To climb to the top of Elbrus you will need warm clothes and a certainclimbing equipment, which you can bring with you or rent from us.

How much does it cost to climb Elbrus? In the description of each tour to Elbrus 2020 you will find a price that depends on many factors, the main ones being the number of days and living conditions. The cost of a tour to Elbrus includes not only the work of a guide, but also transfers, accommodation in hotels and stationary camps, meals on the mountain, including the services of a cook, porters for lifting public equipment, and from the south - also an ascent to Elbrus by cable car. The most popular time to climb Elbrus is June, July and August. How much does it cost to climb Elbrus with our company? It is usually cheaper than going alone - our company offers a flexible system of discounts when booking two or more packages.

Additional Information:

The development of tourism in our time has reached such a level that only space remains a forbidden place for travelers, and even then not for long.

If 15-20 years ago, conquering peaks was considered an extreme sport, but today climbing Elbrus (reviews from novice tourists speak about this) is an extreme type of recreation, tickets for which can be bought at a regular travel agency.

Elbrus

Elbrus, which arose at the end of the Neogene era during its ascent, was so powerful volcano, that today scientists find the consequences of its ancient eruptions hundreds of kilometers away.

The activity of the volcano ceased 2500 years ago, but Elbrus, reviews of the strength and power of which remained in local legends and fairy tales, was depicted on maps in the form of a cone with fire back in the 16th century.

One of the highest extinct volcanoes on the planet began to be conquered at the beginning of the 19th century. A Russian expedition, consisting of scientists and military men, tried to conquer Elbrus in 1829 and even reached a height of 4800 m, as evidenced by the inscription on the stone with the St. George Cross carved on it. But only their Kabardian guide was able to conquer the peak, since he was better suited to the rarefied high-mountain air.

Evidence of the conquest of Elbrus were memorial plates on which this event was recorded, but the conquest of the double-headed peaks of the mountain did not stop there. In 1874, English climbers conquered the western peak. Both peaks, with the exact topography of the mountain mapped, were explored by the Russian topographer Pastukhov, after whom the rocks at 4,700 meters are named.

Since then, climbing equipment has improved and the number of those who have conquered the mountain has increased. Climbing Elbrus (reviews of 20th century climbers speak of this) was a real test of strength, endurance and self-control. Today, every tourist can climb the extinct volcano without special preparation. It should be remembered that Elbrus annually takes dozens of lives of those who were careless or too self-confident.

Weather on Elbrus

The climate on Elbrus is more similar to the Arctic, since the average temperature of the hottest month here reaches +8 degrees Celsius, and the most severe weather conditions is February.

Frequent precipitation in the form of snow and numerous changes in the weather gave the mountain the glory of “wind guide,” as the name of Elbrus is translated from the Nogai dialect.

Climbers of the 19th and 20th centuries had to rely on luck when setting out to climb. Today, modern meteorological equipment allows you to find out in advance when you can go to conquer Elbrus. Reviews from many climbers indicate that knowing the weather in advance often saves lives.

For the convenience of climbers, transshipment bases have been installed at different heights of the mountain, the main purpose of which is to serve as shelter in bad weather and an opportunity to undergo acclimatization before climbing. The latter is a prerequisite, since Elbrus is harsh on those who neglect safety precautions.

Depending on which slope to start the climb from, its difficulty depends.

Elbrus - tourist area

Climbing Elbrus (there are numerous reviews about this today) has become a tourist recreation recently. The development of infrastructure in the form of hotels and transshipment bases has led to tourists from all over the world flocking here.

For example, Mount Cheget (3650 m) is ski resort with the most difficult track in the world. Anyone who wants to challenge the mountain comes here to test their strength. During the season when snowboarders sharpen their skis on Elbrus (reviews say that this is November), the available 4 lifts and 3 cable car lines are not enough to quickly deliver everyone to the place. Thanks to them, skiers can begin their descent from an altitude of 3070 m above sea level, which is not at all easy for beginners, since a slow ascent and rapid descent can affect their general well-being in the form of dizziness and nausea.

In the existing hotels and nearby cafes you can relax between descents and gain strength by tasting local cuisine. You can also start from here on Elbrus. Feedback from climbers suggests that the lifts from the Azu clearing, which can be reached from the Cheget clearing by minibus or on foot (6 km), significantly reduce the time for climbing the mountain.

Trekking bases on the mountain itself are not suitable for long-term accommodation. Their purpose is to give people the opportunity to undergo acclimatization, making an ascent from one base to another, in order to make it easier to endure the ascent to Elbrus itself. Feedback from tourists suggests that there are minimal conditions there, sufficient to gain strength.

Elbrus for beginners

The development of the tourism business in the mountains gave rise to a number of new specialties, one of which was the profession of a guide, or, as they used to say in the old days, a conductor.

Previously, the guide was obliged to deliver travelers to their destination. Climbing Elbrus for beginners (reviews from beginners especially indicate the importance of this) “brought out” a new generation of professionals, whose main function was not only accompaniment, but also training of inexperienced climbers.

As a rule, experienced climbers give recommendations to beginners, which can be found on the Internet, but who reads them? Tourists often naively believe that if a tour operator makes a tempting offer in the form of conquering peaks, then they will carry him to the top of the mountain under white hands. In fact, the agency that sold the tour does not care whether the client succeeds in climbing or not. The rest, as they say, is a matter of the guides’ technique.

Climbing Elbrus for beginners (reviews from all “dummies” confirm this) begins at home:

Firstly, at least some kind of physical training is required so that the legs can move at the right pace from the unusual load. It is enough 3-4 weeks before the trip to increase the pressure on the legs in the form of small stretches, running, going up and down the stairs. Let your muscles soothe at home, then it will be easier to conquer Elbrus. Reviews from beginners that they experienced exorbitant loads that spoiled all the joy of climbing are not uncommon on the Internet.
Secondly, good equipment is required. It's good, not expensive. Price in this case is not always quality. Some items can be rented on site, but shoes should only be worn in and comfortable.
Thirdly, it is important to know about your health before climbing the mountains. If a person does not undergo acclimatization due to problems with blood pressure or for some other reason, then it is better to conquer less high peaks than Elbrus. Rest (there are also reviews about this) at one of the bases will be interesting, but safe.
Fourth, always listen to your guide. He is a professional climber, so his recommendations and even orders are not discussed.

It is important for a beginner to understand that when buying a tour to Elbrus, he is only paying for an attempt, which can turn out to be anything, therefore, when going on a trip, you should take good luck with you. For those who are used to relaxing in comfort, an excursion to Elbrus is not suitable. Reviews about the difficulties of climbing and physical activity this is confirmed.

Rising from the West

This mountain can be climbed from different directions of the world, but not all of them are suitable for beginners. For example, climbing from the west is only suitable for climbers with extensive experience, since here the path is blocked either by powerful glaciers or by rocks that require great skill for a difficult climb.

The base camp on the western side is located in a clearing at an altitude of 2670 m (Djily-Su). Acclimatization will require a day, which can be spent profitably by visiting healing springs.

The next stage is the ascent to the next camp (3500 m) with some things to go through a new stage of acclimatization. The next day you can move into it with the rest of your things. Camp No. 2 is located on the Bityuk Tyubyu glacier (its moraine). At this stage, an intermediate altitude of 3900 m is taken, at which you can leave your equipment.

The third camp is at an altitude of 4200 m. Here you can spend a day of rest before heading to the last base point. An extra day of acclimatization will help an unprepared person regain strength and get used to oxygen starvation.

The fourth base is at an altitude of 4600 m, after which there is already an ascent to Elbrus. The mountain (reviews from climbers claim this) becomes less inaccessible if the preparatory work has been done correctly.

The ascent itself is not dangerous, although the snow slope is somewhat steep. If the body has adapted to rarefied oxygen, then the path in good weather will not be difficult or dangerous.

Rising from the East

From this side you can climb the eastern peak of the mountain, which has a height of 5621 m. Here you have to set up the base yourself tent camps, if the climber is a beginner, then an experienced guide will be required, since this side of the mountain does not provide comfortable living conditions.

The first camp for adaptation and overnight stay is set up at an altitude of 2400 m. The next ascent with “dig-in” is the Irik-Chat pass (3667 m), near which tents are set up. Training is carried out on the glacier, after which they climb to the next level - 4000 meters - and set up tents for the night.

The assault camp is based at an altitude of 4500 m. After rest, training and a trial conquest of an altitude of 5000 m are carried out here. After an adaptation period, the ascent to the summit begins, followed by a descent to the base camp.

This is perhaps the most “inhospitable” side of Elbrus.

Rising from the South

The southern route is the most popular among travel companies and the most equipped for adaptation of all. From this side you can even conquer Elbrus in winter. Reviews from those who have done this say that this requires remarkable physical strength and a willingness to withstand frosts down to -45 degrees with a piercing wind.

The first acclimatization is carried out at an altitude of 2200 m at the Azu camp site. From here you can comfortably reach the next base by cable car, which ends at an altitude of 2950 m at the Stary Krugozor station.

After transferring to another line of the road, you can climb to the next point for adaptation - the Mir station (3500 m). It is advisable for beginners not to rush and undergo acclimatization gradually, devoting at least a day to each altitude.

From the Mir station there is a chairlift to the Bochki shelter (3750 m). It is in this camp that the main adaptation takes place. If you go on a voucher, the ascent schedule is something like this:

On the first day in “Bochki” there is a regular walk, getting to know the surroundings and relaxing.
The second day is a hike to “Shelter 11” at an altitude of 4050 m. The ascent is at an angle of 10 degrees and takes about 2 hours, since the lungs should gradually adapt to the altitude. The descent takes 20 minutes.
The third day is an ascent to (4600), if health and weather permits. The ascent is slow, it takes 3-4 hours, there is a break for tea near the rocks, and then the descent takes 1.5-2 hours.
The next 1-2 days are either climbing or additional acclimatization. We usually go out at 2-3 am under the light of lanterns to try to catch the sunrise at the top.

The weather on Elbrus is changeable, so you should be prepared in advance that you may have to turn back half way. The mountains do not forgive recklessness.

Rising from the North

The conquest of Elbrus once began precisely from its northern side. Unlike the comfortable south side with its hotels and ski lifts, here you will have to go through the entire path on your own. The first base for acclimatization is considered to be the Oleinikov and Roshchina huts or the Lakkolit camp.

Adaptation begins with an ascent to the Lenz rocks (4700 m), where training takes place. The ascent begins after complete acclimatization, rest and overnight. There will be no more intermediate stops to the top. From the north they most often climb to the eastern, smaller peak, since it is closer. An experienced guide can lead a group to the western peak, although it is easier to do this from the southern slope.

For those who love extreme species sports, the skiing and snowboarding season opens on Elbrus in November. Reviews about these descents are the most admiring. The weather at this time is usually pleasant with its still relative warmth and already fallen snow.

You can often see tourists going up to the top and skiers going down. Elbrus also hosts competitions for the fastest climb to the top. The record holder from Kazakhstan with his time of 3 hours 55 minutes. from the Azau clearing (2400 m) to the western peak (5642 m) no one has yet overtaken. To learn how to conquer mountains like this, it takes years of training and knowledge of safety rules.

Safety regulations

When do people come to Elbrus? tourist package, they must clearly understand that the main one here is the one who has experience in climbing to the top, therefore submission to the person responsible for safety must be unquestioning.

Before going out, even for acclimatization, it is mandatory to:

Checking equipment. It must be intact, dry and safe. Be sure to bring face cream and lip balm, as well as a mask or black glasses.
Checking the route, checking time, communications and first aid kit.
Be sure to have a thermos with hot tea and light food - sandwiches, bars or fruit.

Members of the group who have not registered with the Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations are not allowed on the hike. This need was caused to enable them to carry out rescue and search work if the group did not return.

New Year's Elbrus

Come to Elbrus on New Year(reviews about this tour are the most enthusiastic) - this means combining a meeting best holiday a year with the opportunity to conquer the peak.

The New Year's tour program does not allow you to relax, as it requires both gradual acclimatization and development of skills to walk with crampons and trekking poles. An important role is played by learning how to properly pack a backpack, since the higher the lift, the heavier it will seem.

The same applies to using an ice ax, tying knots and walking in a bundle. It often happens that people who climb to the top of a mountain together once become friends for life. The trainers take the preparation of group members very seriously, since winter period Elbrus can bring surprises with weather, icing and winds.

The skills of belaying on ice and stopping a slide are practiced, both in a group and independently. It takes 5-6 days to adapt and develop the necessary skills. When buying a trip to the mountains, you should understand that the minimum amount of time required for climbing is 8-10 days. There are no weekend tours for conquering Elbrus. No one can guarantee that there will be a rise at all; the weather in these parts is extremely unpredictable.

But if you listen to the instructor, follow all his recommendations, take the young “climber” course and catch your luck, then this New Year's tour will be the most unforgettable and amazing adventure of your life.