Climbing Elbrus in a week. Tourist routes Shelter "New horizons"

My dreams about Elbrus stopped only on the 6th night. When I officially asked VKontakte “Uv. Universe, let me sleep without dreams today.

I took an appeal to Mrzd, the stump is clear, Avatarakali , as in general I repeat a lot of things after her, but the request worked. What I see in my dreams now is not connected with Elbrus, but I still get tired of them. I think this is still a consequence of the stress of the campaign. Nerves need to be treated, girl.

Last Saturday I was at a major event held by our company. I was awarded the first prize for winning some competition. I went to this diploma, headlong, although I could treat myself to the sea for three days. Honestly,

I didn’t even go into details, I received my diploma and it lies on my table, littered with medicines. I thought she would continue my winning streak this year. I was sure that 2012 would be a year of triumph. But it wasn't there. Without Elbrus, the joy of this diploma and other sweet little things in life faded. However, I am sure that this depression and blues are just a consequence of mountain stress. Hope it all goes away soon. On the same day, on Saturday, she successfully became angina, but by sheer will and with God's help, of course, she practically stopped the course of the disease. For some reason, I don’t have such power to stop my depression. It still needs to be learned. Nerves need to be treated, girl.

Only now I remembered what the long prefaces were about. On Saturday, I had a meeting. Important.

Feeling that I had a fever and a sore throat, and that I had to work at this event for several more hours, I went up to the ambulance car standing next to me. The event is large-scale, and rescuers and doctors are always on duty. I come closer and see the cute curls of my traumatologist, who back in February, when I sprained a muscle, advised: “Keep your leg at rest for 6 months. Quit running and skiing." I then looked at him like he was a jerk and said: “What 6 months? In 6 months I have Elbrus! A month from the strength, and preferably 2 weeks, and even better ... 2 days! He, too, looked at me beyond his spectacles, as if I were a fool, and advised me not to buzz or move for at least a month.

We got to know each other. Of course, I told him that I went to Elbrus very well, but I didn’t make it because of the mountain, and now I hope to go a second time. This kind soul asked me about the symptoms, looked me up and down, sighed with the same tone: “Well, what can you take from you? Well, you fool, ”and advised cerucal or methaclopramide for nausea. The second one is even stronger. And finally, he ordered to drink iron-rich preparations a month before the campaign. So they parted with the world: I with the pills and the name of the medicines, he with my thanks and blessings.

I will write, perhaps, about our acclimatization exit. It lasted only three days and its description will probably not take long.

So, it was the sixth day of the whole campaign. In order to get the first blows of the miner and acclimatize a bit, we headed to Shelter "Picket 105". Its height is about 3,300 meters above sea level, although at the very picket our Belarusian neighbors tried to dispute this figure, and our boys, of course, believed them. This is our Russian trait - to listen to anyone, but not our own.

Even on Cheget, one of my friends, those who had not summited yet in 2009, pointed to a thin, thin thread encircling the foot of Elbrus and said: “We will go to the picket along this path. There’s the Maiden’s Braids waterfall there, and then the Ukrainian observatory, and beyond that hill there is picket 105.” His “Vooon there” was accompanied by an index finger that blocked all visibility, so you had to take his word for it. Ignoring his explanation, I gazed at the peaks as though spellbound. It really was everything I was looking for. "Titty" - she called them irreverently and immediately cut herself off angrily. You can’t treat the peaks like that, they won’t let you in. I also remembered Kruglitsa, but it was already too late.

In the morning they gathered for a long time. We left the hotel at 9.00, as instructed by the captain. But for a long time they bought additional products, smeared themselves with creams, set off in general not earlier than 10 in the morning.

The trail went around several backyards of the village, and then went up. The first 500 meters felt like we were walking along Fisht. Then things got a little more serious. I was ready for these loads. She walked and walked calmly. A colleague hobbled behind us, and we had to wait a bit so that she would not be completely alone. It turned out, so we trudged along at the end and everyone in the team thought that I was walking as hard as she was.

Even on Fisht, the boys took our backpack from us on one of the steep climbs. Just once. Here, at each of the halts, they descended after us, took away backpacks and disappeared in front of the bend. From my furious attempts to leave the backpack with me, because I went precisely for these difficulties and burdens, everyone brushed aside, saying: "delay the team." I didn't dare to chime in on that. And it’s not in my habit to nod at another lagging behind: it’s ill-mannered.

So they crawled. The climbs became a little harder, but I found a way out: at one of the halts, I just went ahead with the guys and the others were already lagging behind. But I carried my backpack myself, finally, and my soul calmed down. It was on these climbs that we all appreciated the trekking poles. I decided that I would definitely buy myself these: compact when assembled, and very strong when elongated.

One of the most beautiful sights along the way was Waterfall "Girl's Braids"

From afar, it seems small, but when you get closer, you approach it and you are impressed: the water is strong. Some swam, some just sat next to them.

A little later we reached the Ukrainian Observatory. Whether it still works, I didn’t even get to know: I photographed and photographed everything.

From the Observatory to "Picket 105" it's not so much to go. By our tourist standards, of course, and not by the calculations of people from civilization. It turned out to be a small house in which the floors were rotten somewhere, but the attic was still intact. The guys gathered tents around the picket, but most of the team huddled in the attic.

It was here that few of us caught a miner. One guy fell ill, a couple of people had a headache, someone, including me, felt sick. Dinner helped a little, but at night the captain had a hard time: me and that very lagging girl needed aminophylline and an injection of ketanov - we were suffocating with terrible force. And only after receiving the coveted injection, more or less fell asleep.

The next day, almost the entire team, without one of the sickest guys, went to an abandoned ice base. Its height is about 3800. Dressed warmly, tried to walk with insurance, on crampons, cut down with an ice ax. In general, it is only interesting to describe it, in fact it was boring. Although, it was here that I first saw cats and put them on my boots and picked up an ice ax for the first time.

Already here, precisely at this height, I lost any joy of being.

Then, upon returning, we spent one more night at the picket, where all those who had previously fallen ill continued to get sick, those who were freezing continued to freeze, and on the 8th day of the hike we slowly went down to Itkol to rest, eat normal food and again collect backpacks for the ascent.

This exit was not decisive: no one had yet lost their determination to go to the top, although the captain joked every three hours: “Maybe we’ll go to the sea? Well, his - this Elbrus?

We still had a little pain, suffered a little load and did not suffer at all.

Everything was ahead.
Despite everything, neither the throbbing in my head, nor the nausea, nor the shortness of breath and endless fatigue, everything was still ahead.

Elbrus is located in the side ridge of the Main Caucasian ridge, has a rounded shape with a diameter of 18 km at the base and 1.2-1.5 km at an altitude of 5300 m.

Two fused volcanic cones rise above: the Western peak - 5642.7 m (the highest point in Europe) and East summit- 5621 m. The distance between the peaks is 1450 m. The jumper between the peaks - the "saddle" lies at around 5376 m.

The beginning of the route of climbing Elbrus passes along the pedestrian road, laid in 1938. Building materials for the Shelter of Eleven building were delivered along it. The place where the road ended was called "Ice base" (3800 m). From here, a four-kilometer toboggan road was laid along the ice fields of Elbrus to the construction site, building reliable bridges through ice cracks. Until commissioning cable cars this was the most popular route to the Shelter of Eleven. Now they use the Elbrus and Gara-Bashi cable cars, then a simpler and shorter pedestrian road to Priyut-11.

The route of climbing Elbrus: pos. Terskol - vdpd. Maiden's braids - 95th picket - 105th picket - Ice base - Shelter 11 - Pastukhov rocks - saddle - top.

The road to the abandoned "Ice base" of Moscow State University goes along the slopes of the lava flow between the Terskol and Garabashi valleys.

From the fork in the road in the valley of the river. Terskol climbs with serpentines in a beautiful pine forest. The road goes west. The slopes of Elbrus are visible

Above the forest, the road passes the Maiden Spit waterfall. Directly from the road, there is an excellent view of the waterfall itself and the surrounding mountains.

From afar, it seems small, but when you get closer, you can fully appreciate its size. Trails lead to the foot of the waterfall, you can go up and swim in the refreshing jets, or just sit next to it and admire the scenery.

Soon after the waterfall, the vegetation ends and endless placers of lava fragments and other traces of Elbrus eruptions begin.

To the left of the road there will be the remains of the building, this is "95 picket", from it the paths go to the left from the main road, so as not to make an extra detour, it is better to turn onto the path that starts from the ruins.

Climbing higher into the mountains, the road passes by the observatory, and making a detour comes to the ice base.

The trail that started from the "95th picket" again goes to the road, which rises in a serpentine along the rubble of the lava exit. On the way you will meet another almost destroyed building - "105th picket". It was an intermediate station during the construction of Shelter 11 on the slope of Elbrus. It received this name because it is located on the 105th section of the road from Terskol (each section is 100 meters long).

At this height, even in summer, there are snow blows that have not melted since winter and sections of the glacier covered from above with stones and sand.

Climbing up the road above, we reach the building of the old meteorological station, which is located very close to the beginning of the glacier and the Ice Base. This is a metal booth with two rooms and a small kitchen. The rooms have bunk beds where you can spend the night. You can climb up to this place slowly and with backpacks from Terskol in 1 day.

A few minutes walk from the weather station are the ruins of the Ice Base. All buildings are in a dilapidated state, without windows and doors. Almost all rooms are covered with snow, so it will not be possible to spend the night there. In general, the base makes a rather depressing impression and desponds...

Immediately behind the ruins begins a glacier. There are many cracks on the glacier, so it is necessary to go in bundles. Shells or cartridges periodically melt out of the glacier - "echoes of war". Also, the bodies of soldiers who died during the Second World War are still found in the snow and ice.

Following the glacier to the northwest, the route goes to Shelter 11.

To reach the summit, it is best to set up a camp in the area of ​​Shelter 11 on the rocky brooks left over from the lava flow.

Tourist route: Terskol village (2150 m) - Maiden's braids waterfall (2800 m) - back by the same route.
Round trip distance: 10 km. Travel time there: 2-3 hours Travel time back: 1-1.5 hours Climbing height: 2800 m

Route map

Shelter "New Outlook"

Tourist route: Terskol village (2150 m) - Waterfall "Maiden's Braids" (2800 m) - Shelter "New Outlook" (2900 m) - back by the same route. Round trip distance: 12 km. Travel time there: 3 hours Travel time back: 1.5 hours Climbing height: 2900 m
Views: panorama of the Main Caucasian Range, Mount Elbrus, Mount Cheget, glades Azau and Cheget, Cheget lifts and ski slopes, valley of the river Terskol. There are convenient places for tents nearby, a clean stream.

Route map

3. Terskol Peak Observatory

Tourist route: Terskol village (2150 m) - Maiden's braids waterfall (2800 m) - Novy krugozor shelter (2900 m) - Peak Terskol observatory (3100 m) - back by the same route. Round-trip distance: 15 km Travel time there: 3-4 h Travel time back: 1.5-2 h Lifting height: 3100 m
Views: panorama of the Main Caucasian Range, Mount Elbrus, Mount Cheget, glades Azau and Cheget, Cheget lifts and ski slopes, the valley of the Terskol River.

Route map

4. Shelter "Ice Base"

Tourist route: Terskol village (2150 m) - Waterfall "Maiden Spit" (2800 m) - Observatory "Peak Terskol" (3100 m) - Shelter "New horizons" (2900 m) - Shelter "Ice base" (3700 m) - back by the same route. Round trip distance: 24 km Travel time there: 4-6 h Travel time back: 3 h Lifting height: 3700 m

Views: panorama of the Main Caucasian Range, Mount Elbrus, Mount Cheget, Azau and Cheget glades, Cheget lifts and ski slopes, Terskol river valley, Garabashi and Terskol glaciers. Description: The buildings of the Ice Base shelter were previously used as a warehouse for building materials during the construction of shelter 11. Then the Ice Base shelter began to be used for free overnight stays for climbers. The shelter consisted of wooden houses with 2 rooms, in which there were floorings for sleeping and a stove. The shelter is not currently in use. However, the place where the shelter is located is very beautiful, picturesque and popular with tourists. On the way you will meet: a monument to Soviet soldiers, the 95th and 105th pickets.

Route map

5. Mount Cheget

Tourist route: Cheget glade - the top of Cheget mountain - Cheget glade Distance: 3100 by cable car + 2200 on foot Travel time there: 2 - 3 hours Travel time back: 1 - 2 hours Lifting height: 3769 m

Route map

6. "Turya lakes"

Tourist route: Elbrus village (1800 m) - "Turya lakes" (2550 m) - back by the same route. Round-trip distance: 18 km Travel time there: 3-4 h Travel time back: 1.5 h Lifting height: 2550 m

Route map

7. To the glacier Big Azau

(Glade Azau - Glacier Big Azau - Glade Azau). Tourist route: Round-trip distance: 8 km Travel time there: 1-2 h Travel time back: 1 h Lifting height: 2800 m

Route map

8. To the upper reaches of the Irik River

Tourist route: Elbrus village (1800 m) - Irik Narzan - Irik river valley (2400 m) - Elbrus village (1800 m). Round trip distance: 14 km Travel time there: 3-4 h Travel time back: 2 h Lifting height: 2400 m

Route map

Two to three day trips

9. Lake Syltrankel

Tourist route: Upper Baksan village (1520 m) - Syltransu river valley - Syltrankel lake (3200 m) - Syltran pass (3400 m) - Mukal river valley (2750 m) - Kyrtyk gorge - Upper Baksan village (1520 m) Distance there and back: 28 km Travel time: 2 – 3 days. Lifting height: 3400 m

Description: The trip will introduce you to one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the Elbrus region. Exit from the village of Verkhniy Baksan ascent to a height of 3400m. Overnight at Lake Syltran. The second day is an exit to the Syltran pass and descent to the Kyrtyk gorge. Overnight stay near Narzan. The third day is a descent to the village of Upper Baksan.

Route map

10. Along the way of the builders of the Shelter of Eleven. (Map Ice Base)

Route map

11. Glade "Green Hotel"

Tourist route: Terskol village (2150 m) - Maiden's braids waterfall (2800 m) - Peak Terskol observatory (3100 m) - Novy krugozor shelter (2900 m) - "105th picket" (3370 m) - Shelter "Ice base" (3700 m) - back by the same route. Round-trip distance: 24 km Travel time: 3 days Lifting height: 3700 m

Description: The hike is intended for acclimatization, also for training with ice axes and walking in a bundle. Exit from the village Terskol rise to the Observatory, overnight. The second day is an exit to the "Ice base". Wearing full gear. The beginning of training at the foot of Mount Elbrus. After training, descend to the bivouac. The third day is the descent to the village of Terskol.

Route map

12. To the rock of Ullukaya

Tourist route: Upper Baksan village (1520 m) - Kyrtyk river valley (2180 m) - Ullukaya rock (2840 m) - Upper Baksan village (1520 m). Round-trip distance: 23 km Travel time: 2 - 3 days Elevation: 2840 m

Description: The route will acquaint you with the picturesque valley of the Kyrtyk River and with the caves of Ullukay, where traces of the habitation of an ancient man were found.

Route map

13. Svan path to the Mestian hut

Tourist route: Upper Baksan village (1520 m) - Ski lift (1640 m) - Adyrsu river - Dzhailik mountaineering camp (2320 m) - Adyrsu glacier (2700 m) - Mestia hut (2750 m) - Upper Baksan village (1520 m) Round-trip distance: 18 km Travel time: 2 – 3 days Lifting height: 2750 m

Description: The route will introduce tourists to the upper reaches of the Adyrsu valley - the kingdom of eternal ice and snow. Along the way, you will meet: a stone river, a waterfall, an alpine camp "Ullu-tau", a spring-waterfall, a silver spring, Mount Ullu-tau. For those who are unable to have a child in the upper reaches of the Adyrsu valley, there is a female and male stone, the "Fetal" stone and a glade of desires. Many couples come here to ask for a child.

Route map

14. Around the world Kyrtyk - Syltran

Tourist route: Upper Baksan village (1520 m) - Kyrtyk river valley (2180 m) - Ullukaya rock (2840 m) - Mukal river valley (2750 m) - Syltran pass (3400 m) - Syltrankel lake (3200 m) - Upper village Baksan (1520 m) Round-trip distance: 28 km Travel time: 3 – 4 days Elevation: 3400 m

Description: This circular route is interesting to pass in any direction, however, it should be noted that the Syltransu valley is shorter and steeper than the Kyrtyk valley. Therefore, passing the pass from Kyrtyk is preferable for groups that have not undergone high-altitude acclimatization.

Route map

15. Around the world Syltran - Irikchat

Tourist route: Upper Baksan village (1520 m) - Syltrankel lake (3200 m) - Syltran pass (3400 m) - Mkyara moraine - Mkyara glacier (3159 m) - Mkyara pass (3850 m) - Irikchat river valley (2690 m) - Irik Narzan - Elbrus village Round-trip distance: 30 km Travel time: 5 - 6 days Lifting height: 3850 m

Description: The route is acclimatization. Large elevation changes highest altitude 3850 m - Mkyara pass.

Route map

16. Climbing Mount Elbrus. Classic route

Tourist route: Azau glade (2370 m) - Station "Krugozor" (2950 m) - Station "Mir" (3450 m) - Shelter "Barrels" (3900 m) - Shelter "Eleven" (4100 m) - Pastukhov Rocks (4800 m) - Saddle (5325 m) - Top of Mount Elbrus (5642 m) - back by the same route Round trip distance: 23 km (of which 14 km on foot) Travel time: 12-14 h Lifting height: 5642 m

Description: The classic route to Mount Elbrus is the most popular among beginners who already have little experience in hiking and climbing. Before conquering Elbrus, a several-day acclimatization program is held. The conditions of the program are negotiated individually and depend on the condition of the participants, weather conditions and other circumstances.

Despite my hiking experience, until recently I somehow did not take mountain trips seriously. On the water with equipment it’s easier, you can take it with a margin, you don’t need to drag anything on yourself - everything floats by itself. On the mountain rivers so you don’t really need to row, taxi up a little, and that’s all :) Prejudice to hiking I had some...

Last year, reading other people's enthusiastic reports about hiking in the mountains, I suddenly thought - what the hell? Am I depriving myself of something important and right? After all, you can argue about the taste of oysters only with those who have tried them.
I decided to go to Elbrus. Why Elbrus? To amuse your CHSV, of course, because the most high point Europe, is included in the seven peaks. Well, small “feats” are needed in life, they stimulate further movement.

For normal people, purely technical questions begin next - find a guide, coordinate a vacation, withdraw money from a card. We are going the other way. I am skeptical of commercial hiking groups and even more skeptical of guides. Although I understand perfectly well that in some cases it is impossible to do without the help of a professional. In general, such a fad, strangely explainable. And, interestingly, this same fad applies to various kinds of instructors absolutely exactly. A fad does not allow you to go to the mountains with a commercial group, but take lessons from a windsurfing instructor or skiing- please:)
In short, no guides! A partner was needed.

Dad, I'm on Elbrus in June. Are you coming with me?
- You can go...

2. Next was the theoretical preparation. An oblique shelf, a saddle, shelter 11 and even, what a nightmare, a corpse collector - these words excited the imagination. Gradually, the acclimatization schedule was drawn up. But with the practical experience of mountain hiking was not very good. It was completely rotten with practice, I would say :) Both of us, at one time, went to the water five in the Sayans. Plus, my father went radial to Topographers Peak, in the same place in the Sayans. Well, plus skiing, but it's all up to 3000 meters.
Okay, we'll figure it out on the spot. We move towards the M4 highway, outside the career window with yellow walls. Not only careers, of course, but they too:

3. The path along the M4 has already been traveled a thousand times, everything is the same. We left late, so we spend the night somewhere near Rostov and the next day we turn onto the M29 "Kavkaz" and keep our way to Mineralnye Vody. The very first hill in the area of ​​​​the turn to Pyatigorsk enjoys increased attention, well, what to take from the inhabitants of the plains :)

4. We enter the KBR and turn into the Baksan Gorge. There is a constant and decent climb. Traffic cops with machine guns and in armor, armored personnel carriers and concrete blocks at posts, between which you need to snake through. And just unreal, unearthly beauty on the sides. Baksan River:

5. We didn’t book anything in advance, as we originally planned to set up with a tent at the local “camping”. But I didn’t like the camping, plywood houses with amenities on the street for 300 rubles from the nose somehow didn’t impress either. As a result, we settled in a junior suite with a shower and a refrigerator in the Cheget clearing, knocking down the original price exactly twice, solely thanks to the charm and bargaining skills of my partner (well, yes, I knew who to call :) At about 6 pm we leave things and follow the idea of ​​active acclimatization Let's go for a walk around:

6. “Around” somehow by itself turned into a road to Cheget :) In general, on the first day after arrival, the ascent to Cheget was just planned (there was another option for a cable car up and legs down, so as not to load frail lowland organisms with an exorbitant load) , but the road made its own adjustments and we arrived at six in the evening instead of the planned mid-day:

7. Before dusk we manage to rise to about 2500, get into the cloud and run down. Whiskey somehow “itch and itch”, I noticed a similar reaction of the body back in Dombay. And it's only 2500 meters. I'm starting to be afraid of further tricks of the body at a height. Yes, a photo about loneliness:

8. The next day, we are planning to go light up to picket 105 past the Maiden Spit waterfall and the observatory. The trail is very fast, thanks to the GPS navigator, and goes between local farm buildings. Sounds and smells come from the buildings :)

9. Walking is easy enough, other tourists meet along the way. Very different, only goodwill unites everyone. An Indonesian photoblogger was dragging a huge tripod upstairs. There are five of them, including two guides (sort of). We met in the evening below, in the Cheget clearing, and did not see him again. I hope that the Indonesian tripod, along with its stubborn owner, still made it to the top:

10. Whiskey no longer “itches” and in general he feels cheerful, which pleases. And just don’t tell me that the shower helped the day before :)

11. The weather is changing rapidly. Only 40 minutes separate this frame from the previous one:

12. Giant billiard pocket right in the center of the frame:

13. Slowly we reach the waterfall. In the morning, and only mid-June, the glacier melts badly, so the hair is so-so:

14. What can you think of when you look at a waterfall?

15. Of course, only about how he has it inside :)

16. The clouds again quickly disappear somewhere, under the waterfall we arrange a small halt:

17. Almost immediately after the waterfall, an observatory is visible. By the way, Ukrainian. High security guard base:

18. In general, the route is popular, it is quite crowded even now, when the season has not really started yet. We meet a married couple who are going to Elbrus the next day. They are remembered for extracting a huge bunch of bananas from the bowels of their backpack, for which they instantly get the nickname "banana". It clearly follows from the conversation that the guys are completely new to tourism. More "banana" did not meet:

19. After talking with fellow travelers, we feel a little more cheerful, because when we drove here, we assumed that every second "Snow Leopard" is here, and every tenth has the "Crown of the Earth" on his head. And between them are "mutants" running to the top from Azau in 3 hours and 4 minutes:

20. The observatory remains at the bottom, in front of the 105th picket. The road is blocked by snowfields. The snow is wet, walking is somehow not very good. We cut as we can:

21. I come across a monument to the cavalrymen who fought here with the Edelweiss division. From August 21, 1942 to February 13, 1943, German flags were on both peaks of Elbrus. And I have a suspicion that some of the dilapidated stone walls nearby are directly related to those times:

22. They didn’t go down to the building, sipped some soup and set off on their way back. Visible serpentine to the ice base. Terskol-105 picket-ice base-shelter 11 - the classic southern route to Elbrus before the advent of cable cars and other snow groomers:

23. We meet Chelyabinsk residents, they also go to Elbrus. The words "Chelyabinsk guys are so harsh ..." are interrupted by exclamations of "We know! Enough…". Wow what does it mean to become an internet meme :)

24. It is cold and purple clouds go around without a break:

25. Suddenly, for a very short time, our goal for the next few days becomes visible. Sign, not otherwise:

26. Approximately 24 kilometers traveled per day (measured with a ruler in Google Earth). The climb was about 1200 meters. Going down turned out to be harder than going up :)

27. Everything. To be continued…

P.S. Leave photo 1000 on the long side?

Elbrus. No guides

I recently returned from Elbrus and while the impressions are not forgotten, I decided to present them in a series of posts. Our trip coincided with the Adidas Elbrus world race 2017, which added interest.

We arrived in Terskol late in the evening, it was raining heavily. We fit in a cozy campsite on the outskirts of the city at a very affordable price, only 200 rubles per person per day. The campsite had all the basic amenities: electricity, gas and even hot water showers!

In the morning the weather improved, I got out of the tent, turned my head and saw this landscape:

Mount Itkolbashi (3531 m). Pretty nice view after boring flat St. Petersburg.

I’ll immediately make a small clarification: we didn’t set ourselves the goal of climbing to the top of Elbrus, it was more interesting for us to trek along different routes, explore the locations and evaluate our endurance.

In Cheget-Terskol-Azau, the largest number of people who want to climb Elbrus come, because there is infrastructure, lifts and hotels. It is the ascent from the south that is the least difficult. Many acclimatization routes start from here from 2000 to 3500 m. Usually, in the first two days, people go to the Maiden Spit waterfall or to the upper station of the lift to Mount Cheget. We decided to start with a waterfall, the track will be at the end of the post.

The ascent starts from the abandoned cowsheds approximately in the middle of Terskol. At first the road looks like this:

The climb starts from about 2200 m and goes smoothly. Sticks reduce the load on the legs, a useful thing in the mountains.

I was the most cheerful and went far ahead. Stopped to contemplate the open spaces.

Weeeee we're in the mountains! At the bottom of the Baksan gorge in which there are the same Cheget-Terskol-Azau.

View of Cheget

The man asked me to take a couple of pictures with him on his Mark III, I do not refuse.

It was Sunday. In July-August, there is the largest concentration of people who want to conquer Elbrus, plus runners came to the Adidas Elbrus world race 2017.

The trees have ended, the rocks have appeared.

View of the Azau glade, the serpentine goes to Mir Station.

These two rocks are called the Wolf Gate.

The landscape, like the weather, changes rapidly.

Halt, I know Zen. A Niva 4×4 drove along the trail behind me.

The height has risen to 2700 m, a lack of oxygen begins to be felt, it becomes more difficult to go.

Reached the waterfall.

Water flows down from the glacier.

On the left is the path to the waterfall.

I did not want to stop at the waterfall for a long time, so I set my friends up for a further ascent.

Not far from the 95th picket we made a halt with lunch. Only half of the group agreed to go further. Some people got a headache, the first symptoms of mountain rash began. This often happens on acclimatization exits.

On the way we meet a lot of people, including groups with guides. Everyone greets, it is so accepted on the mountain paths, all over the world.

Location behind the observatory. Hidden behind the clouds are the peaks of Elbrus.

Observatory, height 3150 m

After the observatory continued to walk alone.

View towards the Terskol River, snowfields began to be clearly visible.

I meet another group on the way, this time from Hungary.

Evening begins, we have to cut the path and accelerate in order to start the descent as soon as possible and have time to return before dark.

Picket 105, from the name you can understand that this is a 10.5 km trail from Terskol to the Ice Base. Tourists sometimes spend the night in this alpine cast.

The building was used by the builders of Priyut 11, which burned down in 1998.

I have never seen snow in late July before.

View of the path to the observatory.

The trail continues to the Ice Base, from there you can walk along the glacier to the new Shelter 11, it is not recommended to go along the glacier without equipment.

He raised his bar a little on the peaks, last year the maximum height was reached at Pico del Veleta (3396) in Andalusia.

Bochka's shelter can be seen in the distance.

At an altitude above 3000 m, there is practically no vegetation.

During the descent, the miner covered me a little: my head began to spin, strange sensations appeared in my stomach.

Looking back, the western peak of Elbrus has opened.

Larger.

Against the backdrop of the miner, euphoria and a surge of strength appeared.

On the way back, hell started, the speed was lower than up. There were practically no people on the way.

It gets dark much earlier in the mountains than in St. Petersburg. 20:00 it was already dark. At dinner, we shared our impressions and went to bed, the clock was only 22.

I plan to post the rest of the mountain spam in the near future and not postpone until winter, as is usually the case.

If you have any questions about trekking in the Elbrus region, I will be happy to answer in the comments.

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