ski Caucasus

General description


caucasus_general__07

ELBRUS The Caucasian ridge stretches for 1200 km from East to West, from the Black sea to the Caspian. Its width reaches 180 km. The chain separates Russia from the Caucasian region.The Greater Caucasus is traditionally divided into three regions: West Caucasus, Central and East Caucasus. The borders of these territories go along meridians that cross mt. Elbrus (5642 m) in the West and Kazbek (5033 m). It is between these two giants that the major part of the most beautiful mountains lies. The central valley along which flows the river Baksan has many side valleys, leading to the most famous and beautiful peaks of the Caucasus, such as Donguz-Orun (4492 m), magnificent ridges of Shkhelda (4300 m), Tchatyn (4368 m) with the well-known «rhomb», the legendary Ushba (4710 m) and of course mt. Elbrus (5642 m), the highest summit of the Caucasus.

It is easy to reach mt. Elbrus region from Mineralnie Vody airport, which is connected by a network of roads with valleys on the northern slopes of the Caucasus.

caucasus_general_elbrus_map

Mt.Elbrus, a two-peaked ice giant, crowns the panorama of Central Caucasus. It is at least 1000 m higher than its neighbors. Its two peaks have two volcano craters, which make the Eastern peak a little lower than the other (5642 and 5621 m).The Eastern peak still has an enormous crater 250m in diameter. All the massif is covered by a gigantic ice-cap. Therefore from Persian language the name of the mountain is translated as «Snow Mountain». Cabardin and Balkan people, local folks of these lands, call it «Mountain of Happiness».

An ascent of mt. Elbrus along the normal route, that is the most popular one in the Caucasus. It gives a possibility to reach a great altitude by technically simple route. Nevertheless it requires full acclimatization.

The following plot includes skitour for enjoying mountain ridges and valleys intended to acquire necessary acclimatization. There is a possibility to change or cut down the suggested program of acclimatization, but taking into consideration the specific climate of the region, we find it necessary to spend certain time on the place before the summit attempt.

Title Filter      Display #  
# Article Title
1 short Elbrus ski and climb programs at Baksan valley
2 longer Elbrus + Adyr Su ski and climb programs
3 Equipment
4 Accomodation at Baksan Valley and on the way to it
5 Pyatigorsk
6 the Caucasus
7 the Caucasus - Elbrus ski+climb 15 days
8 the Caucasus - Elbrus area ski tour 8 days
9 the Caucasus - Elbrus ski+climb 8 days