If You ever wonder "What its like to climb"?
All I can say its breathtaking to watch how view unfolds on every step you take and once you get to a peak you dont want to leave, but you have to. Weather conditions can change in minutes maybe seconds... You have to stay alert at all times. Plus our bodies are used to live at smaller altitudes - unless You ar "Sherpa" (Tibetic ethnic group native to the most mountainous regions of Himalayas). We westerners have to consider our health issues cause your earlier injuries, patalogies might come back at most unwanted time due to altitude. So every time you climb mauntains you have to be aware that ascending peak is only 50% of climb and other 50% is descent. Listening to your body is vital thing and its okey to tern around and go back if you dont feel okey...
Picture of Elbrus 80km away. I called him Big Daddy :)
So in year 2016 I went to Caucasus region of KBR ( Kabardino-Balkar Republic ), Russia. We lived two weeks at alpine camp, climbed 4 peakes averaging 4000m and after drove 80km to climb Mount Elbrus (5642m).
Ski resort at the base of Elbrus. Not much of skiing going on during summer season.
Don't worry there are more resorts further away, so if you are into skiing you can deffinetly do that in July...
Picture from our camp at 4900m. The left hump is Elbrus.
What I told You about weather? Five minutes ago sun was shining and then the cloud came up and we were stuck in thick fog of snow cloud.
Day of the peak.
We woke up at 3am ate breakfast and started our ascend. Temperature was -9 Celsius, sky was clear but windy as hell. This picture was taken at about 6am. You can see all clouds are gathered at the bottom. Looks like heaven.... :)
Mountain Ghost!
On top of the Elbrus. It took me 7 hours to peak and three to descend. Had a minor headache and once I was at camp took two "Ibumetin" pills after 30min felt great again.
This is transport we used to get to a camp and back. Basically it a wooden chair that is attached to cord and you have +25kg bag in front of you. I had to sit on the chair without any safety support. But I loved it...
If you like warm clothing, you should visit Caucasus. People are selling truly amazing stuff there for small amount of money and its all handmade. Like this Adidas knitted sweater... How cool is that?
Anyway please feel free to follow me and i'll take you down adventurious path of my life...
Thank for you pations and support!
Cheers!