 We, (me and a mate) are travelling to Russia to climb/trek and hopefuly summit Elbrus over two weeks!
Has anybody been there? Got any tips/suggestions?
(What insurance did you take?)
ps we do have a Russian guide.
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 I presume the hut's been rebuilt?
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???????
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 Lost me on that one too, Mike!
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A couple of years(?) ago, the Spaceship that served the summit burnt down.
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Spaceship? Surely Elbrus isn't THAT high!
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Bloody hell it was nearly 5 years ago. Just to make things clearer: Priut Hut. I'd forgotten that it was the second one to burn down. So my tip would be, take a tent!
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 I haven't done it, but a friend did last year. Mike is right about the hut having gone. Leave yourself plenty of time to acclimatise (300m ascent per day is recommended), don't forget it will be very cold on top (so plastic boots recommended), and watch out for thieving, which apparently is a big problem there.
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oh right! I see...
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Just come back ( Sat 3/8/02) got to the top ok, it's bloody high!
If any one would like any tips e-mail me.
We met a group of four who were trying to do it in four/five days(?!) straight from the plane!
If your out there Davey, how did you get on??
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Well done Guy. BTW have they rebuilt the hut?
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Any tips for which outfitter to go with greatfully received - I hope to go this summer.
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I went with KE, oh dear 20 years ago! They then subcontracted it to a Ukrainian company, but we did enjoy having Victor Saunders with us. The trip we did involved a weeks walking around the mountain first. A trip I thoroughly recomend. but not sure if anyoone does it now. It was certainly remote, with a fantastic impression of local people.
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 I have been looking into organising a trip up Elbrus but have seen that the Foreign Office is advising against all but essential travel due to kidnappings or something. A lot of the exped companies aren't taking people at the moment because of this and if you went on your own then you may find you can't get insurance or they wouldn't pay if you had a problem You may already know all of this but just in case.
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 Done Elbrus twice now both from the easier southern route, 2007 and 2009, I now run trekking tours in the Western Caucasus www.passandpeak.com You are still right about the foreign office advice for the Elbrus region, boring bunch of sissy's. I lived in the Stavropol region of the Caucasus for 4 years up to August 2010 and I've never had any trouble. Sure there are problems but its between the Caucasus and Russian ethnic groups and rarely involves tourists, i've always found them very friendly. Please don't assosiate all of the Caucasus with problems almost all of the problems are in the far Eastern regions. The central and Western side of the Mountain range are free from these troubles, after all the next 2014 winter Oylimpics are in the Caucasus. You should still be able to get viable rescue and medical insurance. Might do Elbrus again this year from the North, drop me a mail via my web site if anyone wants any advice.
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