Alpine Ascents Elbrus Expedition Itinerary
I thoroughly enjoyed this expedition and look forward to taking another expedition with Alpine Ascents in the very near future (already planning out my next climb!). This was my first time taking a trip with Alpine Ascents, having used another company in the past. I was very pleased, and plan on using Alpine Ascents for my future climb adventures.
The location of Elbrus provides a look into the cultures of the Turkish, Georgian, Azerbaydzhani, and Russian people. Our expedition begins in the city of Moscow, the focal point of commerce and politics in Russia. Moscow is ever-changing, with markets and state shops dominating street life. Depending on schedules, we’ll take time to visit the Kremlin, stroll Red Square along the Moscow River, visit the Russian Orthodox Cathedral of Christ the Reedemer and tour the famous Novodevichy Cemetery . Following our climb, we return to St. Petersburg, a traditional vanguard of European culture. It is one of the few cities in the world that has retained its charm amid great change. Downtown sprawls with exquisite architecture that canopies streets of shops, small restaurants and an active nightlife scene.
Please Note: This itinerary does not include travel dates. Participants may choose to arrive a day early for ease of travel.
Day 1
Arrive in Moscow (DME or SVO). Climbers should arrive no later than 3 p.m. Given the nature of the Moscow Airport we
suggest using a Taxi or Uber to reach your hotel. In the evening, there will be an orientation and an introductory dinner.
Day 2
Tour of Moscow and night is free for climbers. Our tour will include Sparrow Hills, Church of the Redeemer, and onward to Kremlin. We then visit Red Square, a viewing of St. Basil’s, and on to Gum Department Store. Time permitting, we visit the Novodevichy Cemetery.
Day 3
Flight to Mineral Vody. After breakfast in Moscow, we’ll fly south to Mineral Vody (mineral water), and travel by bus to our hotel in the Baksan Valley. The Baksan is known for its Russian climbing camps. Mountaineers from all over the world come here to train and climb in the Caucasus. It is also a great location for them to develop the technical skills necessary to climb great peaks around the world. Full gear check.
Day 4
Baksan Valley. The acclimatization process begins by hiking in the beautiful Baksan Valley as we tour the village of Cheget.
Day 5
Acclimatization hike to Cheget observatory. This is a long day of walking with good altitude increases. By the end of this day, most climbers feel strong and accustomed to the altitude.
Day 6
Move to the Heart of Elbrus Lodge where we’ll lodge at about 12,200 ft. We often use the tram and ski lift to help move our gear. Overnight in Lodge.
“The huts were fantastic and well worth the extra cost!” – AAI Elbrus Climber
“The huts were amazing and way better than I could have expected given that we were at 12,000 feet on the mountain.” – AAI Elbrus Climber
Day 7
Hike to Pastukov rocks (15,416 ft.) and return to lodge.
Day 8
Brief skills review and rest day before summit.
Day 9
Summit day. We’ll leave camp via Sno-Cat at 3 a.m. and ride to the Pastukov Rocks area. From the rocks, we’ll begin our summit ascent. It is a long day; look for a 12-hour round-trip climb. From the summit, we’ll have excellent views of the Caucuses, including Ushba, the Matterhorn of the region.
Day 10
Extra day at huts for inclement weather. We’ll take a glacier tour or return to the valley if we already have summited.
Day 11
Hiking and barbecue and celebration (we can use it as summit day if needed).
Day 12
Fly Mineral Vody to St. Petersburg.
Day 13
Tour of St. Petersburg and night is free for climbers. Our tour features the Peter and Paul Fortress, the St Nicholas Naval Cathedral and the Rostrum Columns, among other sights. We spend the afternoon at the world-renowned Hermitage, considered one of Europe’s finest museums with vast collections of Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh, Rodin, and Picasso displayed amidst architectural splendor. Time permitting, we continue to the Aurora, the military ship which fired the first shot that started the Bolshevik revolution. We overnight in a St. Petersburg hotel.
Day 14
Depart St. Petersburg (LED) for home country.
I truly enjoyed the Elbrus trip. Good people, well organized, overall an excellent trip.
