Climbing Elbrus

Elbrus 5 642 m

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Climbing Elbrus

Climbing Elbrus

This is an amazing opportunity to experience one of the most wonderful and exciting adventures in your life. Master of the Wind, majestic and mysterious, has always attracted the bravest tourists. Words cannot describe how magnificent this place is. Is it even possible to explain what you feel while watching the sun rise over the mountains? Which words could describe that blessed feeling of awakening up there? When you see all this beauty and magic with your own eyes, you will also feel that all the words will hide deep inside your mind. Having seen this place once, you will come back over and over again.

There are dozens of names for Elbrus in different languages. Balkars call it “Mingi-Tau” (“One Mount of a Thousand”) apparently relating to the majestic size of the mountain that has always captured locals’ admiration. There is another Balkarian name – “Elbrus Tau”— that translates as “The Mount around Which the Wind Circles”.

Kabardians call it “Oshkhomakho” (“The Mount of the Day”). This name explains that snowy Elbrus, shining by the dawn’s early light, is a symbol of a new day for Kabardian people. The Georgian name is “Yal-Buz” (“Snow Mane”), Abkhazian – “Orphi Tub” (“The Mount of the Blessed”). There is no consensus on the origin of the common name “Elbrus”. It is to have originated from the Iranian word “Elbrus” meaning “high mountain”.

Эльбрус

 Routes of Climbing Elbrus

Climbing up Elbrus… Dream or reality? Everyone has their own motives and goals for coming here. Some want to experience it themselves, other want to enjoy the magnificent mountain scenery, build new relationships, maybe find love, why not? Or make a unique proposal. Our company has created different trips in order to live up to all of your expectations. Everybody will find the most suitable route to climb up Mount Elbrus.

What is the best time to come here? The most favorable period is summer. There are, however, stipulated trips from April till September. There are also some winter trips but you should consider that they are the most difficult and suitable only for experienced climbers. Regarding the summer period, every month is unique and has its own peculiarities. If you come here from April to May, you will catch the mountain spring when nature awakens from the long winter’s sleep at the foot of Elbrus. You can see the appearance of the first grass and flowers. But as you climb, the environment gradually transforms into a snowy but relatively warm and sunny winter. These months are attractive for ski and snowboard fans because you have an opportunity to both climb up Elbrus and enjoy the mountain resort. In June you have a chance to experience all the seasons. Hot summer at the bottom and snowy winter at the top. July and August are the most popular months among climbers for getting to the summit of Elbrus. The weather is the most predictable and the wind is the least powerful of the whole season. Do keep in mind that some dangerous cracks appear during these months and thunderstorms are more frequent. Our experienced guides know how to deal with these weather conditions, but you should carefully weigh the pros and cons if you are planning a solo ascent of the summit in July and August. We do not recommend it. September attracts lots of tourists because it is easier for your body to adapt to the elevation this month. Moreover, September is considered to be the end of the season, so the number of tourists noticeably decreases. But it is always up to you to decide what month attracts you the most.

There are four different ways of getting to the highest point of Russia – from the east, west, north and south. The southern route is considered the easiest one because the southern slope of Elbrus is the most developed. There are cable cars, hotels, cafes and gift shops (in the foothill village of Terskol). That is why the southern route is the most suitable for people who are only starting their acquaintance with the mountains.

Восхождение на Эльбрус

The na-goru.ru team offers you various routes: from the south (“Fitness-tour”, “Optimal”, “Comfort”), from the east (“Lava Flow Route”) and from the north.

Experience has shown that trip “Comfort” is the most popular among our clients. This trip provides you with the most comfortable climb and is well-suited not only for experienced mountain climbers but also for people who are in the mountains for the first time. The trip schedule is optimally adapted for our clients and provides accurate acclimatization and preparation for the climb up to the summit itself. The distance that you have to overcome with heavy bags on your back is minimized (almost nonexistent). You can have access to many creature comforts throughout the trip (hot meals, tea, sleeping in a cozy hut with electricity, cell coverage available almost everywhere along the route, snow cat and skidoo service).

Лошади на склонах Чегета

There is another way of climbing Elbrus from the south which we offer as our “Optima” trip. The main feature of this trip is living in tents which brings more difficult and severe climbing conditions. It is also the perfect opportunity to get away from the daily routine and let yourself enjoy dramatic mountain scenery, unforgettable sunsets and sunrises, and be close to nature.

Цветы на Эльбрусе

The “Fitness-tour” will let you feel the majesty of mountains, enjoy unbelievable views, take amazing pictures, see magnificent mountain waterfalls, swim in ice-cold water and get refreshed and rejuvenated. Staying in the mountains under the “Fitness-tour” program will surely help you get in better shape, restore your emotional balance, get rid of stress and gain unforgettable memories. This trip is also appropriate for children. Pack weights are minimized. The trip includes an ascent of Cheget (up to 3100m) and gradual elevation to the second base camp (3700m), where you can stay the night and enjoy a mountain dawn and setting of the sun that you will never forget. If the weather is nice, you also can see the magnificent starry sky. There is an optional visit to the Blue Lakes. Zeric-Kel Lake is one of the deepest lakes in Russia at a depth of 360m. You can also swim in the thermal springs which will rejuvenate you and wash away your stress.

Ледник "Семёрка"

The climb from the east is carried out along a lava flow. This route is quite difficult but very picturesque and fulfilling. Nights in tents… Heavy backpacks… No cableways, no roadways… You rely only on yourself. This is true sport climbing. It is a trip into the wildness where there is no civilization, hotel or tourists. The route starts in the village of Elbrus, goes through the beautiful valley of the Irik-Chat River and gains elevation along the Achkeryakolsky Lava Flow, which is very close to the enormous sidelong volcano’s crater.

Climbing from the north is not as popular as climbing from the south. Many fewer people try to climb Elbrus from this side of the mountain. That said, the first man who reached the highest point (5642m) did it from the north. In choosing this exact route you get a chance to repeat the pioneer’s path. It is worth noting that the route is very hard. You will need to be in good shape, experienced in camping and with a good base of alpine knowledge. All of the route is taken on foot with a heavy backpack. It starts from Glade Emanuel, a glade named after general George Emanuel, who headed a science expedition in 1829. Kabardian Killar Khashirov, who was a part of the expedition, was that first man who stepped to the top of Mount Elbrus. There are a lot of beauties of nature on the route. Warm narzan tubs, which are extremely healthy; the difficult to access Kizil-Su waterfall and the enormous Cultan waterfall; the “German Glade”, which is an extremely flat 1*2km plateau, “Moon Glade”, and “Mushroom Glade”, full of bizarre rocks that look like mushrooms.

Whatever trip you choose there will always be time to visit local markets in order to buy gifts from Elbrus for your friends and relatives. But souvenirs are not the main feature of local markets. You will be surprised by the variety of unique, authentic local products: papakha, pine cone jam, wild bull’s hide… and tea! Mountain herbal tea. So flavorful, so healthy. Be sure to take some tea back home to treat your friends and convey to them some mountain energy.

Click our “Climbing routes” section for more detailed information. If you are still in doubt and not sure which route suits you better, do not hesitate to contact us. It would be our pleasure to consult and help you choose the optimal route.

Эльбрус, обака, рассвет.

Climbing Difficulty

The ascent of Elbrus is considered to be relatively easy among alpinists. The process of getting to the summit is a rhythmic pace, which can be compared to going up a very long staircase. You do not have to be a professional athlete to climb Elbrus. You should always consider that mountains are mountains and it is really hard and dangerous to do anything without professional mountain guides, though.

The most difficult part of all trips is acclimatizing to the high altitude. Elevation gain should be very gradual and measured. Only then you can be sure that climbing up to the summit will not be an ordeal for your body. All our trips have been designed in consideration of the functioning of the human body in conditions of decreased oxygen concentration. The trips aim at the most effective adaptation to mountain conditions.

Эльбрус, восхождение в апреле.

Another significant factor that influences the success of the trip is weather. It is commonly known that the weather is extremely changeable in the mountains. Wind speed can even reach 200 km per hour up there. We will start the ascent of the summit only if the wind speed does not exceed 40 km per hour (to guarantee your safety). That is why every trip includes an alternate date in case of bad weather so the summit day can be postponed. However, if the weather does not improve on the alternate date, we will have to cancel that attempt to get to the summit. The safety of our clients is our main concern. Another dangerous weather condition is fog. There is almost no visibility in fog, which leads to a high chance of disorientation and loss of the route which can be life threatening. Climbing in a group reduces such risks. Our professional guides are greatly acquainted with the terrain, are highly skilled in orienteering and have specialized equipment to avoid getting lost.

Водопад Терскол

Climbing Preparation

Almost every healthy person without any medical limitations is able to reach the summit. We use a multi-layer system of acclimatization with gradual elevation  which helps all our clients get the best adaptation to the altitude and physical effort. Although, we strongly recommend that you get physically prepared in advance so that you can fully enjoy the beauty of the mountains around you without feeling extreme fatigue and sickness. The sooner you start exercising, the better your body will be prepared for the climb. The main goals of exercising are both training of particular muscle groups and developing stamina of the body. First of all, you should strengthen your cardiovascular system via different aerobic exercises: running, hiking, swimming, cycling, skiing, skating, etc. The quality of your training sessions will play a big role in your mountain experience. Therefore, they should be regular (preferably everyday) and long so that your body will be ready to face the physical challenge of climbing Elbrus. Start training with a 30-minute duration, gradually increasing it up to 60 minutes. There has to be a 2-3-hour aerobic training at least once a week. CrossFit trainings usually provide good results. You also should pay careful attention to the equipment. Ensure that your clothes and footwear (especially the footwear!) are very comfortable. We also have our own rental shop where you will find professional and tested equipment. We strongly recommend you not dream about the final result but enjoy every second of being in the mountains. Never lose your great and positive attitude! It will be an unforgettable adventure! Choose and train with your favorite exercise and move forward towards your dream!

Эльбрус, закат.

The Reasons You Should Choose Our Company

Our company “Vershiny Mira” Llc. (“World Summits”) is an officially registered tour operator. Mountains are our specialization. We organize trips to the summits of Elbrus, Kazbek, Lenin Peak, Kilimanjaro, Matterhorn, Mont Blanc, Aconcagua and a trip around Annapurna Circuit in Nepal. There are more than 30 trips a year to the summit of Elbrus. The success of your ascent, your comfort and safety greatly depend on the guide, who escorts you during the whole trip. That is why we carefully choose all members of our team. All of them are great mountain lovers. They are people who have spent a major part of their lives above the clouds. Just think – the youngest of our guides has a 12-year-long climbing record! All of our guides have more than 10 ascents under their belts. But never forget that mountains are both magnificent and dangerous. Safety first is our motto and credo. Our guides are constantly looking out for you and doing their best to keep you safe. That is why in choosing our company you can be fully confident of your safety and quality of the trip.

Реки Приэльбрусья

Experienced guides, elaborate programs, a wide variety of trips and reasonable prices – these are the main reasons to climb Elbrus with our company. Mountains are our job, inspiration and motivation. Mountains are our life. Do you want to feel the charming magic of the Caucasus Mountains? Well… You have come to the right place. And you can be sure, having been here once, you will come back again and again.

Base camp location
How to book a trip Climbing Elbrus

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