Ski Tour + climbing (South Side), 9 days
Standard - $ 1490, Comfort - $ 1850
April - May |
05.04 - 13.04
19.04 - 27.04
|
Ski Tour + climbing (North Side), 10 days
Standard - $ 1450, Comfort - $ 1780
April - May |
30.05 - 08.06
|
Itinerary of the 9-days ski touring and climbing expedition, South side
Day 1. Arrival at Mineralnye Vody airport - Transfer to Adyr-Su valley. Overnight at a hut.
Day 2. Ski touring to Mestia pass in Adyr-Su valley
Day 3. Ski tourung to Koyavgan pasd in Adyr-Su valley
Day 4. Ski touring to Gumachi pass in Adyr-Su valley. Descent, transfer to hotel Snezhny Bars (Snow Leopard).
Day 5. Transfer to lift station Azau, ascent to hut at 3800 m. Overnight at hut.
Day 6. Acclimatization ascent on skis to Pastukchov rocks (4800 m). Ski descent to hut to 3800 m. Overnight at hut.
Day 7. Summit day. Overnight at hut.
Day 8. Reserve day. Overnight at hotel.
Day 9. Transfer to airport Mineralnye Vody
Included:
- all transfers according to itinerary
- full board during the trip
- English speaking guides in guide-to-client ratio 1/5 for ski touring days in Adyr-Su valley and 1/3 for the summit day
- full board during the trip
- accommodation at huts
- visa invitation letter, local registration, border zone permit
- park fee
Not included:
- equipment hire. It is necessary to reserve all items in advance
- accommodation and meals at hotel if a client decides to change the itinerary.
PLEASE NOTE, the Adyr-Su valley is located in the border zone and a special permit is required. It takes up to 45 days to get this permit ready.
Itinerary of the 10-days ski touring and climbing expedition, North side
Day 1. Arrival at Mineralnye Vody airport. Our representative will be awaiting you outside of the arrival hall. Group transportation to hotel in Kislovodsk will be arranged for 14:30 and 19:30. If your flight is landing after that time you can take a taxi in the airport which costs about €15 by daytime and €30 by night. The ride will take 1 hour. Upon arrival to hotel the guide will check equipment and assist with hiring equipment when necessary. Overnight at hotel.
Day 2. Early in the morning we depart for the base camp. Most probably, that the road conditions will not allow us to reach the camp and the last 13 km we'll have to walk. But hot tea and dinner with nice people will compensate everything! Overnight at the base camp (2500 m).
Day 3. Short avalanche reminder course and we start for Mt. Tashlysyrt (3465 m). Overnight at the base camp.
Day 4. Ski tour to the high camp (3800 m). Overnight at the hut.
Day 5. Acclimatization hike to the Lenz Rocks (4800 m). Depending on the snow conditions it can be necessary to leave the ski and to put on crampons. A fixed rope may be used. Overnight at the hut.
Day 6. Day of rest. Short hikes or ski runs. Overnight at the hut.
Day 7. Summit day. Crampons and fixed ropes may be used depending on snow conditions. Overnight at the hut.
Day 8. Reserve day for climbing Elbrus (in case of bad weather).
Day 9. Reserve day. Return to Kislovodsk.
Day 10. Transportation to Mineralnye Vody airport.
Included:
- all permits and registrations
- park fee
- all transfers according to itinerary
- accommodation at hotel and at the huts according to itinerary
- full board in Kislovodsk and on the route
- English-speaking guide
- equipment for the group (ice screws, rope, radios, satellite phone, etc.)
Not included:
- international and domestic flight tickets
- personal equipment rental
- additional nights at hotel in Kislovodsk
- mountaineering insurance. It is highly recommended for climbing Mount Elbrus.
Important information
· The best time to enjoy ski touring in Elbrus region is in April (from North Side - April and May) when it is already not that cold and it is snowing a lot. It is possible to do a ski ascent of Mt. Elbrus in May and even in June, but there will be no snow in the lower parts of the route.
· Equipment. For the ski touring part you will need your normal skiing equipment plus special boots and skis for ski touring, helmet, crampons, ski crampons, pips (avalanche transceivers), snow probe and snow shovel. You can hire all equipment on the spot. Please, inform us in advance.
· Who are the guides? Our guides have been leading ski touring groups for years in this area. They know all the potential avalanche threats on the routes, how to avoid them and how to act in case of emergency. All our guides speak English and have radios and satellite phones. Guide-to-client ratio on ski touring part is 1:5; on the summit day on Mt. Elbrus the ratio is 1:3.
· Climbing Mt. Elbrus. You will gain very good physical condition and acclimatization after several days on ski touring. This will allow you to climb Mt. Elbrus. Success depends mainly on the weather. Sometimes in spring the snow is blown off the slope starting from the Lenz Rocks (4600m) and bare ice shows. In this case we leave the skis, put on the crampons, and the guide can decide that belaying is necessary. In May and June the snow conditions on Mount Elbrus make it possible to do a full ski ascent.
· Experience and skills. Previous ski touring experience is very important, because taking part in a ski touring trip requires knowledge of special techniques of ascent and excellent skiing skills, because participants don’t have to wait for each other to come up or ride down.
Our expeditions to Mount Elbrus
How to book your Elbrus climb