Elbrus
Nowadays, there is an increasing rate of climbers who go to the Elbrus, Europe's highest mountain and one of the Seven Summits. But before Soviet Union opened up in 1985, the things were much more difficult to organize. At that time, Mountaineering in that area were increasingly politicized and an expedition required a tough mentality as well as willingness to suffer endless red tape with a smile.
But now, the Perestroika and the Glasnost allows people unrestricted access to the Caucasus. The Elbrus and 13 other mountains are higher than the Mont Blanc in the Alps. With Elbrus' altitude (5642 meters), it is about 1200 meters higher than Mont Blanc. Geographically, the Caucasus marks the delineation between Europe to the North and Asia, in the form of Turkey and Iran, to the south.
The Caucasus are landlocked, but the Black and the Caspian Seas are so large that they have a significant effect on Elbrus' climate and precipitation. Sandwiched between the Russian steppe and the Arctic Circle in the north and the semi-desert of the Middle East and Arabia in the south, the Elbrus has a very variable climate. The southern slopes are dry and subtropical, in contrast to the much cooler northern slopes.
Above the treeline of the region, temperatures quickly fall, and above the permanent snowline, which is higher than in the Alps, they rarely rise above freezing. On summer nights, temperatures are on an average -8 degrees celsius. At this temperature, snow and ice are perfect. Temperatures above the snowline can fall to -30 degrees celsius even during the day.
The end of July and August offer the most stable weather, but one should watch out for afternoon thunderstorms as these are frequent and longer periods of heavy rainfall and snowfall do occur. The winds are often cold and violent and weather changes often. Elbrus is quite a straightforward climb, but weather, altitude, and demands on stamina prevent many from reaching the summit.
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| Targeted Activities |
Camping, Hiking, Mountaineering, Rock Climbing |
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July to August
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| Altitude: |
5642- meters |
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Adventures International Inc.
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Hood River / Oregon / United States
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Starting Price: $200.00
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Explore Your Planet with one of the most unique guide services anywhere!...
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Canada West Mountain School
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Vancouver / British Columbia / Canada
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Starting Price: $100.00
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Established in 1982, Canada West Mountain School is one of the premier Mountaineering, Climbing and Avalanche Safety centers in Canada. Owned and operated by IFMGA Mountain Guide Brian Jones, Canada W...
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8 Days Climb Mt. Elbrus
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Terskol / Kabardino-Balkariya (Nal'chik) / Russian Federation
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8 day climb Mt. Elbrus, 5642 m, the highest peak of the Caucasus
An ascent of mt. Elbrus along the normal route, that is the most popular one in the Caucasus. It gives a possibility to ...
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