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Start location: Mineralnye Vody Airport (MRV), Russia
End location: Mineralnye Vody Airport (MRV), Russia
Duration: 8 Days
DAY 1
ARRIVAL DAY
Group meeting at Mineralnye Vody Airport (MRV) at 13:00 / 1 PM Moscow time, and transfer to the RMH Lodge in Terskol village by RMH van. Accommodation at the RMH lodge. Welcome briefing and orientation. Signing Waivers and required documentation. Gear check. Overnight stay at the RMH lodge.
DAY 2
MOUNT CHEGET
Acclimatization: ski-touring/hiking Mount Cheget – 3,600 m. Overnight stay at the RMH lodge.
DAY 3
ASCENT TO THE HIGH CAMP - 3850 M
Ascent to the High Camp by cable car. Accommodation at the mountain lodge at 3850 m. Ski-touring to Priyut Hut № 11 – 4100 m. Overnight stay at the mountain lodge.
DAY 4
PASTUKHOVA ROCKS - 4800 M
Ski-touring to the Pastukhova Rocks – 4800 m. Walking in crampons training. Overnight stay at the mountain lodge.
DAY 5
REST DAY / SELF-ARREST TRAINING / FREESKING
Rest day. Snow & ice training with level 1 self-arrest course. If enough time, freesking using the cable car. Evening guides meeting with a group and a client briefing. Overnight stay at the mountain lodge.
DAY 6
SUMMIT DAY (3850 M - 5642 M) - 10 HOURS
Summit day. Ski-touring Mount Elbrus Western Summit – 5642 m. Depending on the snow and the weather conditions, ski descent from the very Summit or from the saddle (5300 m). Same day descent all the way back down to the RMH Lodge in Terskol by skis or cable car. Overnight stay at the RMH lodge.
DAY 7
RESERVE DAY
Reserve day in case of bad weather on the previous day / or light hiking to Terskol Creek waterfall. Festive dinner. Certificates presentation. Overnight stay at the RMH lodge. Extra option: Paragliding in Elbrus Gorge.
DAY 8
DEPARTURE DAY
Morning transfer at 09:00 / 9 AM from the RMH lodge to Mineralnye Vody Airport (MRV).
SEASON 2020
CLICK on your dates to BOOK ‘em before someone else does
EUR €1990.00
per person incl. taxes
Ski-touring Mount Elbrus via the South Route Highlights
In one word, ski-touring Elbrus is a blast! It is an ultimate ski touring adventure and a must-do for all backcountry skiers who want to discover new horizons of big mountain ski mountaineering.
Skiing from the very top of Europe and one of the biggest volcanoes on the planet is what makes this trip a truly unique once in a lifetime experience. On the Summit day, we ski all the way down from the summit if the snow and the weather conditions are safe.
South Route is the best option to ski-tour Elbrus as it provides huge variety of safe terrain for backcountry skiing, much better snow conditions compered to the North Side, as well as good flexibility on the track and a higher chance of successfully reaching the summit, as it is the fastest way to the summit.
Only when ski-touring Elbrus from the South Side you can enjoy the breathtaking panoramics of the Great Caucasus Range throughout the entire climb.
Ski-touring Elbrus from the South Side you interact with local Caucasian culture, local Balkarian people and local cuisine much deeper.
South Route is not very technical but still gives the climber very high altitude exposure.
Ski-touring Elbrus by the South Route you get comfort, which includes the ability to use a cable car from the foot of the mountain straight up to our High Camp mountain lodge at 3850 meters to transfer all your gear and save a lot of time, as well as the ability to use a snowcat and snowmobiles up to 5100 meters on the summit day to save 4 extra hours and a lot of energy.
In the High Camp at 3850 meters, we stay at the new comfortable fully heated and fully electric mountain lodge, which is equipped with Power for 24 hours, big panoramic windows, downstairs bar with local beer, first-floor restaurant with flatscreen TVs, and intermittent WiFi, for you best relaxing experience.
Why Ski-Tour Elbrus with RMH Guides?
We guarantee your maximum Safety on the trip and throughout the entire climb like no one else in the industry.
All RMH Mountain Guides are Internationally Certified and highly qualified with Russian Mountain Guides Association and ACMG, with more than 700 successful Elbrus summits.
We are locals and we always get you a whole lot closer.
At Russian Mountain Holidays, we are as passionate about fabulous and healthy food as we are about everything. We cook you authentic Caucasian cuisine of the Balkarian people from the best local farm products and freshest ingredients. We are also attentive to your special dietary requests and you can always choose the right menu for yourself.
At Russian Mountain Holidays, we work hard to guarantee you the best possible Elbrus climbing experience to our guests and it is impossible when there are too many people in the group. That's why we keep our groups small. We close the booking when there are 8 guests in the group and work with a ratio of 1 RMH Lead Guide to every 3 guests on the Summit Day.
All our groups are always very international, so during the expedition you have a unique opportunity to practice your foreign language and meet interesting people from all around the globe.
All our Elbrus climbing trip packages are truly unique and all-inclusive. Everything is already included in the trip package price and you won't spend a cent more once on spot.
At Russian Mountain Holidays, our mission is to guarantee you flawless quality, deep family style approach, and Safest Elbrus climbing experience while making your dream a reality.
At Russian Mountain Holidays, your Safety is our primary concern. We register every group in the local Elbrus Rescue Service Department and operate in close cooperation with certified rescuers in every group.
At RMH, we do care about your maximum comfort and provide you single occupancy supplement at our cozy RMH Lodge in Terskol.
In the High Camp at 3850 meters, we provide accommodation at the very best mountain lodge available for today on Elbrus.
PLEASE, CAREFULLY READ THE IMPORTANT INFORMATION BELOW
Previous ski-touring and backcountry skiing experience is required to ski-tour Elbrus. Most of the terrain on the route is not very technical and difficult to ski, however, some of the terrain is steep and the snow conditions are always very different on the different parts of the route and at different heights. That being said, Elbrus climbing with skis requires good fitness level and good ski skills, which includes good control skiing on the sun crust, wind crust, powder, and wet snow.
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Official Invitation letter for the Russian Tourist Visa. We email it to you immediately after we get your deposit payment and a scanned copy of your passport.
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All local registration fees. For foreign citizens according to the Russian legislation.
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National Park fees.
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Climbing Permit.
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All transportation by RMH van. MRV airport — RMH Lodge — MRV airport.
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Accommodation in Terskol village. Accommodation in Terskol village at the RMH Lodge. Single occupancy supplement.
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High Camp accommodation. Accommodation in the High Camp at the new comfortable fully heated and fully electric mountain lodge at 3850 m. Mixed dorm with 8 separate beds in every room.
- Russian Banya (Russian Sauna). Every evening when we are not up on the mountain.
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Ski Passes. For all cable cars throughout the trip.
- Snowcat on the Summit Day. From the High Camp lodge (3850 m.) to the Pastukhova Rocks – 4700 m.
- Snowmobiles. In case of emergency only.
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All local transfers in Terskol.
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High-Quality Meals. All meals during the entire trip, except days in Pyatigorsk city, if spending a Reserve Day there.
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RMH Lead Guide. For the entire trip.
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RMH Second Guide. For the summit day only.
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Rescue Service Check-in.
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2 Summit Attempts. Above 5000 meters is one attempt. In case if the weather conditions got bad during the summit day, we try again the next day if possible.
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Completion Certificates.
- Festive Dinner.
- Authentic Caucasian experience.
- Awesome atmosphere and a lot of fun.
- Cultural program and sightseeing in Pyatigorsk city. If spending a Reserve Day there.
- Any flights.
- Russian Visa costs.
- International Medical & Evacuation Insurance for Alpine Climbing.
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Rental of personal climbing equipment.
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Filming and video production.
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Additional (Private) Mountain Guides.
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Additional or individual transfers from /or to Mineralnye Vody airport. You might need it in case if your flight arrives later than the time when our RMH transfer van departs from the MRV airport on the first day of the trip, or if your return flight out of MRV departs much earlier or much later than the time to which our RMH transfer goes to the airport on the final day of the trip.
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Alcohol drinks.
- Accommodation and meals in Pyatigorsk city. If a group decides to spend a Reserve day in Pyatigorsk city after the climb, the meals and accommodation are not included. You can always choose the best time and the right menu for yourself in one of the many local restaurants.
- Any changes in the released on RMH’s website trip program which lead to additional expenses.
Weather conditions:
Please, keep in mind, in the mountains the weather is unpredictable and changes very fast. Depending on the snow and the weather conditions the trip itinerary may be changed in consultation with the group. We want to see all our guests reaching the summit, however, when the conditions become dangerous for climbing we don’t take any risks. It is important to understand that before booking this trip.
Arrival / Departure Instructions:
On the first day of the trip, we meet you at the Mineralnye Vody Airport (MRV) at 12:30 Moscow time. We wait for you outside the arrival hall of the MRV airport in RMH t-shirts and greet you with smiles.
Our RMH van departs from the main parking of Mineralnye Vody Airport (MRV) at 13.00 (1 PM). All guests are requested to arrive according to this time. If you arrive later, or much earlier, we can order you a taxi or organize a private transfer for you. Approximate price to get from the airport to our RMH lodge in Terskol village by taxi is about 70-100 EURO. In this case, we meet you upon arrival at the lodge.
On the final day of the trip, our RMH van departs from the RMH lodge to Mineralnye Vody Airport (MRV) in the morning at 09.00 (9 AM) Moscow time. We can also order you a taxi or organize a private transfer for you from the lodge if your return flight departs earlier or much later.
Required Elbrus Climbing and Ski-touring Equipment:
Personal complete current ski-touring equipment set is required for this trip.
RMH recommends that all guests have their personal current climbing and ski-touring equipment to ensure the best possible experience. In your personal gear, you feel more comfortable during the entire climb and get the most out of it. Below we have listed the checklist of all the required equipment for your successful Elbrus climbing trip. Please, check it out and make sure that you already have everything that is listed below or let us know the list of items you need to hire in advance. You can also visit our Elbrus Climbing Equipment page for more detailed gear list with descriptions and good examples.
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Ski-touring skis
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Ski-touring boots
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Ski-touring skins with the right width. Brand new recommended!
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Crampons for ski-touring bindings — Mandatory!
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Lightweight Ski or Climbing Helmet
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3 Antenna Avalanche Transceiver
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Avalanche shovel — Aluminum recommended!
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Avalanche probe
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Crampons. Crampons must check fit with ski-touring boots prior to a trip.
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Ice axe. Ice axe with a leash. Lightweight.
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Climbing Harness. Alpine climbing or ski-mountaineering harness. Should have adjustable leg loops and fit over all clothing.
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Sunglasses. Glacier glasses 100% UV protection with side shields or very good sunglasses with wrap around coverage.
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Ski Goggles. For wind and snow during the bad weather conditions and summit day.
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Headlamp with new batteries
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Extra batteries
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2 Locking and 2 non-locking carabiners. Larger is better for the harness. A pear-shaped carabiner is the best, screw gate type recommended.
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Self-belay leash. 2-meter sling or prusik cord.
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Ski poles. Adjustable or trekking poles. Black Diamond recommended!
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Comfortable backpack for climbing and skiing every day. A minimum of 30 liters.
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Warm sleeping bag. Down or synthetic sleeping bag rated to 0 F or -15 to C.
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Bottle for water. 1 liter wide-mouth Nalgene.
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Thermos. 1-liter small stainless steel thermos.
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Personal first aid kit with your personal doctor recommended medications.
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Several various pairs of warm thermal socks
1-2 pair of liner socks (polypropylene or wool)
2-3 pairs of lightweight skiing socks for ski boots (polypropylene or wool)
2 pairs of medium to heavy wool socks for the upper mountain, check boot fit with liner and wool socks on.
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Thermal underwear
2 long sleeve polypropylene or wool shirts lightweight, we highly recommend light colors for base layers.
2 pairs of lightweight to mid-weight long underwear bottoms.
- Trekking / Hiking pants. 2 pair pants. At least one pair should be simple nylon trekking pants for the walking on acclimatization days and relaxing.
The second pair can also be nylon or lightweight soft shell climbing pants for on the mountain.
- Shorts. 1 pair nylon shorts for city days and base camp.
- Sandals. 1 pair sandals (Optional but nice on warm days in Pyatigorsk and at the base of the mountain lodge)
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Fleece jackets. 1 Soft Shell or intermediate thickness fleece jacket or wind shirt.
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Fleece pants. 1 pair fleece pants or light synthetic insulated pants.
This is OPTIONAL for extra warmth on summit day and also on the lower mountain for Base Camp evenings.
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Down jacket. Down or Synthetic Sweater or Jacket or 300/400 weight Fleece Jacket.
Essentially an additional mid-weight warm layer for cold days in your layering system.
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Usual warm clothes, in which you feel comfortable
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Gore-Tex Jacket (an effective waterproof and breathable fabric. The uppermost layer of your clothing) — Check out this link to see how it works!
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Gore-Tex Pants
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Several pairs of gloves. A minimum 1 pair of very warm gloves.
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Buff. The bandana that protects your neck and face from the wind and snow.
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Several hats. A minimum 1 warm wool or synthetic hat, that cover your ears.
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Cap
- Sunscreen with at least SPF 40. SPF 50 is better
- Lip care with at least SPF 30, 2 sticks. A string to hang around the neck is helpful.
- Extra batteries for your headlamp
- Toiletry kit
- A small supply of personal toilet paper in Ziploc for an emergency. We provide paper while at huts.
- 3 large plastic bags for keeping your gear dry
- Extra Ziplocs for keeping small things protected
- Earplugs. Highly Recommended! We sleep in a mountain shelter with other climbers!
- Hand wipes for personal hygiene
- Favorite snacks, a combination of salty and sweet. Candy bars like snickers are available at the base of the mountain in many different shops. Bring about 1.5 kilos or 2+ pounds. For summit day and walking days.
- Paperback books and some magazines for travel within Russia and for stay at the mountain shelters
- iPod or MP3 with extra batteries
- Camera with extra batteries or charging cords
- Waterproof wallet for travel documents, money & passport, Russia Visa
- Power bank
- Lightweight personal crockery. Knife, fork, spoon, mug. — This is optional.
Important! Special requirements for Elbrus climbing participants:
- Medically fit and physically trained for alpine climbing at high altitudes. We need to have a look at your medical examinations, which should indicate that you have no contraindications to engage in this type of activity in the mountains and that you are completely healthy and in an adequate mental state.
- Before arrival in Russia, please carefully check all the necessary information for foreign citizens entering the country. This information could be found on the website of the Russian Federation embassy of your country. For example, if you are a Canadian citizen, you have to check the website of the Russian Federation embassy in Canada, etc. Some laws are very new and constantly changing and may differ for citizens of certain countries! Please keep in mind, it is your responsibility to be aware of the necessary requirements for entering the country! Russian Mountain Holidays LLC will not be responsible for ANY problems that may arise upon the violation of customs laws of the Russian Federation.
- Age limit — not less than 18 years old, and not older than 55 years old.
Mandatory! Required documents:
- International Medical & Evacuation Insurance for Alpine Climbing which includes helicopter evacuation in case of emergency. PLEASE, KEEP IN MIND, IN CASE OF EMERGENCY DUE TO INJURY WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF THE HELICOPTER EVACUATION EVEN IF THE GUEST DOES NOT HAVE EVACUATION INSURANCE.
- Passport.
- Russian Tourist Visa.
- A Medical Examination Certificate which indicates that you have no contraindications to engage in this type of activity in the mountains at high altitudes and that you are completely healthy and in an adequate mental state. We need to have a look at your Medical Examination Certificate at least 2 months before your arrival. The results should be fresh. We accept the usual medical certificate from your family doctor for an overall health check + cardiologist check. Please, take it seriously! WITHOUT MEDICAL EXAMINATION WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE YOUR BOOKING AND SELL YOUR SPOT IN THE GROUP TO THE NEXT PERSON ON THE WAITING LIST.
Signing the WAIVER OF CLAIMS:
Alpine climbing or mountaineering always comes with a certain risk that we can’t completely control and is dangerous. Our job is to reduce this risk to a minimum as much as possible, but it’s still there as this is a wild nature. Climbing Mount Elbrus we spend 5 to 6 days in the backcountry. Buying this trip you have to understand and be aware of the seriousness of the Mount Elbrus climbing program and the possibility of the risk. Upon arrival at the RMH lodge on the first day of the trip, every guest will be asked to read and sign the RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT.
ANY COPYING OF MATERIALS FROM OUR WEBSITE IS PUNISHABLE BY LAW. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
ЛЮБОЙ ПЛАГИАТ И ЛЮБАЯ КОПИЯ МАТЕРИАЛОВ С НАШЕГО САЙТА БУДУТ РАСЦЕНИВАТЬСЯ НАМИ КАК НАРУШЕНИЕ ПРАВ ИНТЕЛЛЕКТУАЛЬНОЙ СОБСТВЕННОСТИ И БУДУТ ПРЕСЛЕДОВАТЬСЯ ПО ЗАКОНУ РФ.