Cybercasts

Friends, family and loved ones,

Team Up to Our Elbrus was up to our Elbrus in altitude today. We climbed up to Pashtakov Rocks at about 15,000 feet. The round trip took us about 6 hours and the team was looking really good– they made it look easy. Along the way we visited the remains of the famous Priut Hotel – once the highest in Europe- and took a break at a memorial on the site.

We enjoyed the clear weather on the way up and made it to the Rocks just as the clouds started to roll in. The photo below shows us getting ready to descend.

Some people glissaded down, some of us walked and Mack snowboarded– she’s really good! We made it back to the hut just as the rain started and had a well earned rest before dinner.

Tomorrow we will acclimatize some more and do one last skills review before our summit push.

Vern & Carole

Hello Everyone,

Team Up to Our Elbrus reporting in from our base camp on the mountain. We had a busy day today. Our move up to the huts went very smoothly this morning– two gondolas , a chairlift and alot of teamwork helped to get all of our gear and food up here before 11 am.

After settling in for a bit, we practiced our climbing knots before lunch and then did self-arrest practice and fixed line practice in the afternoon. The team members really have their skills dialed and looking good.

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We took a short spin on the snow to refresh our crampon technique and, for fun, we also practiced some self-extrication techniques.

All in one day! Whew! Tomorrow, we are planning to hike up to Pashtakov rocks. We will leave early to try to miss the rain that is forecasted.

Everyone is doing well and tucking into bed at the moment.

Thanks for following us,

Vern & Carole

Hello Everyone,

We had another beautiful acclimatization hike today under clear skies and very warm temperatures. We climbed up about 1,000 meters, partly on trail and partly “overland”. The team was in fine form and made it all look easy. Like yesterday, we walked amid stunning wild flowers and had wonderful views across the valley.

When we were close to our high point for the day, several team members could not contain themselves.

On our way back down to the hotel, we passed a beautiful waterfall, which you can just about see in the photo below.

We are planning to move up to the hut tomorrow morning and so everyone is now packing and making last minute gear adjustments. We are all feeling good and everyone is excited to get up on the mountain.

Stay tuned!

Vern & Carole

Friends, family and loved ones,

Everyone was itching for action after all the string on flights, so we stretched out on an acclimatization hike up the ridge behind our hotel

. A clear day with lot of colorful flowers made for a joyous romp up the hillside.

It was so hot we had to seek shade amongst the trees. But we still had some spectacular views of our route.

Team was in fine spirits as the view opened up.

At our chosen high point we witness a dramatic avalanche
that swept the North face of Donguzeran and shook the valley below. Our team, Up to our Elbrus in Flowers, was quite impressed.

That will be a tough act to follow tomorrow when we hike up to the observatory.

All our best,
Vern Tejas

Friends, family and loved ones,

We got up early, packed our bags in the van and headed to the airport. A few hours later we were in Mineral Vody in the South of Russia. Another few hours in a mini bus put deep in the heart of the Caucasus Range. The small village of Terskol will be our base camp as we try to ascend the highest mountain in Europe. After a Veal Cordon Bleu lunch we had a fun time of it checking everybody’s equipment.

And the team got creative and came up with our team name. From now on we are” Team Up to our Elbrus in…..”

All our best,
Vern & Carole Tejas