How to spend a vacation in the Elbrus region - at the foot of the highest peak in Russia

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

For those who dream of seeing high mountains and glaciers, loves nature and does not want to sit in one place.

In winter, skiers and snowboarders go to the Elbrus region, and in summer - climbers, lovers of trekking and trail running. In five to seven days, you will walk plenty of mountains and gorges, look at Elbrus and other peaks of the Main Caucasian ridge. You don't need to carry a lot of equipment for walks: a small backpack with water, food, a camera and additional clothing in case of bad weather is enough. You walk during the day and go home in the evening.

How to prepare

1. Select the time

It is best to travel from mid-June to late August. During this period, the weather is most pleasant. And it is more stable than in the off-season: less precipitation and less cloudy. The snow lies only above 3000 m, the waterfalls are powerful, in the gorges it is green and everything is in bloom. To catch good weather, look at Elbrus and take cool pictures - go in the summer.

2. Tighten up your fitness

Walking in the mountains for several days is difficult, especially for those of us who lead a sedentary lifestyle and move little. To get pleasure from the hike - exercise. Start jogging two to three times a week a month before your trip, this is enough to tone your body.

3. Decide where to stay

The Elbrus region is located in the Baksan gorge, which is closed by the Azau glade - here the road ends and the Elbrus slope begins. In front of Azau lies the village of Terskol, and next to it is the Cheget glade. In these places, there are many hotels, boarding houses and guest houses, and local residents rent out housing - there are many options for accommodation. It is more convenient to stay in Terskol in order to be closer to the main hiking routes.

4. Collect equipment

Here's what you need:

• Sunglasses, sunscreen … In the mountains, the level of solar radiation is strong, so choose glasses and a cream with a high protection factor.
• Headdress … A cap or bandana will keep your head from overheating.
• Thermos and flask for water … Hot and sweet tea from a thermos will give you strength, and a flask can be refilled in a waterfall or river.
• Trekking sticks … Relieve stress on joints and muscles, help to climb and descend.
• Head Torch … It will come in handy if it got dark, and you have not yet returned home. Don't forget the extra set of batteries - just in case.
• Membrane jacket … In the mountains, the weather changes frequently, so the membrane jacket will not let you get wet and at the same time will protect you from the wind.
• Fleece jacket … When it gets colder, it will warm you up, and the fleece also wicks moisture well, dries quickly and is lightweight.
• Backpack for 20-30 liters … For food, camera and what is described above.
• Trekking shoes … Boots or sneakers for light trekking or hiking. The main thing is that the shoes should be worn so that they do not press and rub.
• Trekking socks … Special hiking socks save from calluses, support the foot, do not tear, breathe and dry faster than cotton socks.
• Pants or shorts … It's hot during the day and you can wear shorts, but then you should have trousers in your backpack in case it gets colder. Lightweight pants made from breathable synthetic material can replace shorts.
• T-shirt … Choose synthetic options, they wick moisture better and dry faster.

Where to go and what to see

Below is a five-day program for an overview of the most popular attractions. On these routes, climbers acclimatize before climbing the summit of Elbrus. They rise higher, dine at a height, and then go down.

The trails are easy to navigate and well trodden: in summer there are many groups of climbers, runners and just tourists. For navigation, you can download the Maps.me or OsmAnd applications, and study the trails on the Nakarte.me resource before the trip. It takes one day for each place, and the travel time depends on the physical condition. Better to leave early so you can get back before dark.

Terskol gorge

Better to start from here. This is a gently sloping closed gorge that rises towards the end. It is a simple trail with a gentle rise, so it is easier to walk than on other routes. It is important to gradually adapt to the height and stretch your legs after the road. A little short of the end of the gorge, on the left side, you will see one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Elbrus region - Terskol. This is the business card of the route.

Maiden Spit waterfall and observatory at Terskol peak

The observatory is located at an altitude of 3,150 m, and from there a gorgeous view of Elbrus, its southern glaciers and the Caucasus ridge opens up. The main starting point for the average tourist who has no goal of acclimatizing for the ascent is the Maiden Spit waterfall. This is a good place to relax, swim and have a snack before heading up to the observatory or going downhill.

Valley of the Irik and Irikchat rivers

The mountains are beautiful, but not everyone is interested in looking at the same peaks all five days, albeit from different angles. To change the views, you can take a taxi to the village of Elbrus, which is located 12 kilometers from Terskol. There the trail begins to the valley of the Irik and Irikchat rivers, where the climbers' route passes to the eastern summit of Elbrus. Other mountains of the Caucasus range are visible from the trail: Ullukara, Bashkara and Bzhedukh. On the way, there is a narzan spring and "sand castles" - rocks that, under the influence of winds, water and temperature changes, have acquired forms similar to ancient oriental palaces.

Cheget

This is a ski center near the village of Terskol. The route starts from the Cheget glade, and a rather steep ascent is maintained throughout its entire length. You can climb here both on foot and by chairlift. In the middle of the trail there is a cafe where you can have a delicious lunch: eat local khychins (thin cakes with a filling) and lagman. At the end of the route there is a view of Elbrus, the observatory, the entire Baksan gorge and the Donguzorun peak, on which the most beautiful glacier "Seven" is located.

Elbrus

It is logical to devote the last day to the main peak. If in the previous days you climbed several times above 3000 m, then by this time the body has sufficiently acclimatized to the altitude. If not, carefully monitor your condition and do not climb high.

There can be a lot of snow on the mountain, so gaiters come in handy to protect your feet. If you want to spend the night in the hostel upstairs, take a sleeping bag. All equipment can be rented in the Azau glade before the ascent - there are many pick-up points.

We go up the cable car to the Gara-Bashi station - the very last stop at an altitude of 3,847 m. Here you can walk higher and look at the place where the Shelter of the Eleven used to stand - a hotel for climbers. If it's hard or lazy to walk, you can go there by snowmobile or snowcat for money. You should not go higher - the condition may worsen due to altitude sickness.

You can dine at the Mir station, there is a cafe there. A little higher, between the stations, there are hostels for spending the night - this place is called "barrels" because of their shape. It is better to check the availability of free seats by phone in advance, in some you can agree on meals so as not to lift the food from below.

It is worth spending the night on Elbrus because of the sunrise and sunset over the Caucasian ridge, the noise of glaciers and the atmosphere around. Many interesting people from all over the world can be found on the mountain.