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Mount Elbrus Ski Touring, South Side

Join Grigory, an IFMGA-certified mountain guide, for this fun, scenic and exciting 8-day Mount Elbrus ski touring adventure. Climb to the top of the highest peak in Europe before descending on skis. Enjoy incredible views every step of the way.

Private and Group

Caucasus

9 Days

May, Jun

Fit

Intermediate

Highlights

Enjoy the stunning scenery on and around Mount Elbrus.
Climb to the top of one of the world's seven Summits.
Spend the last days of the trip skiing on Elbrus, from the summit down.

Description

Situated in the Caucasus Range of southern Russia, heading on a Mount Elbrus ski touring adventure is one of the best ways to explore the peak!

Rising to 5,642 meters (18,510 feet) in elevation, Elbrus is the highest mountain and volcano in Europe, making it a member of the Seven Summit and Seven Volcanic Summit clubs!

The adventure begins shortly after we meet up in Mineralnye Vody and head out onto the mountain slopes. We will then spend the following four days acclimatizing and practicing with the technical climbing gear.

On the fifth day, we will get an early start and head up to the summit of the peak. From here, we’ll enjoy phenomenal views out over the surrounding mountains and valleys before putting on our ski touring gear and heading down.

Depending on our timing, we may even have an extra day on the mountain to do some more skiing before we return to Cheget and depart.

Summiting the peak and the days of ski touring will by far be the highlights of the trip. As late as June, we will enjoy incredible runs and plentiful, high-quality powder on Elbrus’s slopes.

So what are you waiting for? Book now for this unforgettable 8-day ascent and Mount Elbrus ski tour!

If you like the look of this trip then we think you may also enjoy or 11-day mountaineering expedition to the summit of Elbrus!

Price includes

- Guiding fee

- Accommodation included

- Transport during the trip

- Breakfast

- Lunch

- Dinner

- Rope

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival at Mineralnye Vody airport (MRV). Transfer to Elbrus valley.

Arrival at the Mineralnye Vody airport. Our guide or program manager meets your group at the airport. We take a transfer to the Elbrus valley in a comfortable car or bus (4 hours). We arrive to Cheget village, check-in at ZhaNtaMal hotel 3* (or similar). After lunch we will do the equipment check. All the missing items can (should) be rented.You meet your guide, then have lunch and dinner in one of the restaurants, Caucasian cuisine

Day 2: Acclimatization skiing to Cheget (3200m). Preparation before climbing.

You have breakfast in your hotel. Then we take acclimatization ski tour to Cheget. From Cheget you can enjoy a beautiful view on Elbrus. Descent down to the Cheget glade. Lunch and dinner in cafe.

Day 3: Skiing in Terskol valley. Ascent to the Observatory (3500m)

You have breakfast in your hotel. Then we take acclimatization ski tour to the Observatory in Terskol valley. Descent. Lunch at the restaurant. After lunch you should start preparing everything for the ascent to Elbrus slopes. Dinner in cafe.

Day 4: Ascent to the shelter on the Elbrus slope. Acclimatization ski tour to 4400 m

Departure from the hotel to Azau glade. You can leave your spare luggage in the hotel.We will ascent to the station “Gara-Bashi” (3800 m.) in gondola cable car, then check-in at the shelter, and take an acclimatization trek to “Priut 11” (4100 m, 2 hours), or to the end of the Ridge (4400 m, 4 hours). There we will have some basic mountaineering training.Dinner and overnight in shelter.

Day 5: Acclimatization ski tour up to 4700 m. Descent to Azau. Overnight in the hotel.

Early wake up. Today we will take the familiar route to the Ridge of Rocks, and then climb to the Pastukhov rocks (4700 m.). The turning point will depend on your mood, physical state and weather conditions. After that we descent to the Azau glade. Dinner at the café and hotel overnight.

Day 6: Rest day. Return to the Shelter.

Late breakfast. Ascent to the Shelter in gondola cable car. We have lunch in the shelter and prepare for the Elbrus ascent. Shelter overnight.

Day 7: Ascent to Elbrus (5642m.)

Early breakfast. You can use Snow cat service to ascent up to 4300, 4800 or 5000m. Anyway you will follow the classic path through the Saddle. We will see the stunning scenery of the Caucasus Mountains at dawn. From the top of Elbrus, you will see a breathtaking panorama of the Main Caucasus Mountain Range and even Black sea. Descent from the top.If the group manages get to the shelter by 1PM, then it is possible to descend to Cheget village on the same day (the cable car works approximately until 3PM). If the group gets down to shelter later than 1.30PM, you will stay for dinner and overnight in the shelter.

Day 8: Reserve day

The reserve day can be used to adjust plans due to weather conditions.1. Reserve day for climbing/2. If the group did not have time to descent on a Summit day and had another night in Shelter, – today we will have breakfast, then descent to Azau and transfer to the hotel.Free time in the afternoon. In the evening we will have celebration dinner.Hotel overnight.

Day 9: Transfer to the airport.

You have breakfast in your hotel. Departure to the airport. The transfer will depart at 10.30AM. We expect you to arrive to Mineralnye Vody airport around 1.30PM.

Details

More info

Please contact us for a complete equipment list.

Meeting point

Mineralnye Vody airport

Equipment you will need to bring

Poles

Helmet

Goggles

Backpack

Crampons

Sunglasses

Watter bottle

Ski equipment

Climbing skins

Avalanche equipment

About the guide

Grigory

5.00

(2)

Mountain Guide

Grigory is a passionate and experienced KMGA/IFMGA/UIAGM guide with plenty of mountaineering under his belt. He has a Russian sports master which he acquired in 2006, he was the 2007 Moscow Mountaineering Champion and has guided since 2008 in Nepal, the Caucasus, Tien Shen range, Alps, and more. He is also a Certified Alpine Ski instructor since 2014 and has an Avalanche Rescue certificate from the Russian Association of Mountain Guides.

Languages

Russian | English

Certificates

KMGA | IFMGA

Residence

Moscow, Russia

What people are saying about Grigory Kochetkov

Matt Dawson

5.00

August, 2021

I climbed with Anton and Maksim; both really great guys. The trip was fully private with just myself climbing. This was a very fast trip beginning in Terskol; not the huts/barrels. Maksim and I climbed up the barrels from Terskol where we met Anton. Anton and I rested about 6 hours until midnight then made a single push to the summit and back down to barrels. The entire round trip was about 23 hours. The weather was cold, snowing/sleet, lots of wind and little to no visibility. We made good time in challenging conditions. Planning and coordination of the trip was smooth and easy. Great job and great company all the way around. Thanks!

Umesh Katdare

5.00

August, 2021

Excellent trip well planned with superb guides Have already recommended to friends who want to climb Elbrus