Climb Elbrus North Route

EXPLORE ELBRUS’S WILD SIDE 11 DAYS / 10 NIGHTS :: 3/4 Star Options Available

Climb Elbrus North Route is an 11-day expedition to the top of Europe’s highest peak via the wild and beautiful North Route! Prepare to backpack through pristine mountain steppe and ascend open glaciers as our local professional mountain guides lead you to the lofty summit of Mount Elbrus. Open to both novice and advanced climbers. Your guides will teach you everything you need to know for a safe and successful ascent. The North Route ascent is 100% on foot!

After flying into the Caucasus Mineral Waters airport (MRV), settle in for the scenic, 1.5 hour. drive to Kislovodsk, the last town nestled in the northern foothills of Mount Elbrus, which is famous for its health-bolstering mineral waters. Your guide will brief you on the history of the historic towns through which you are driving. You will have a quick stop at a gear rental shop on the way, to get whatever vital mountaineering equipment you were not able to bring with you. Once you have arrived in Kislovodsk , check into your hotel and enjoy some free time to explore the famous park and try the local mineral spring waters. Locals say it is the best preparation for Elbrus possible. You will meet with your guide tonight and go over the plan for the next 10 days, and a successful Elbrus ascent!

Your acclimatization to the Caucasus Mountain heights starts today! A 2.5 hour. drive will take you up over rugged mountain roads through lush valleys and into the northern foothills of Elbrus. Your destination is Elbrus base camp, or Djili-Suu. At 8,200 ft (2,500 m) elevation few places feel so remote. After settling in to camp you will head off on a short acclimatization hike to stretch your legs.

Today you will go on an acclimatization hike up to 10,200 feet (3100 m) to see fascinating rock formations called the stone mushrooms, which are reported to be a place of ancient pagan worship. Return to base camp for another night beneath the amazing starry skies of the North Caucasus Mountains. You will spend the 3 nights at base camp in tents; you wanted the more remote option of climbing Mt. Elbrus… you got it on the North Route!

You will do some serious altitude adjustment today, as you will carry a portion of your gear up to high camp at 12,300 ft (3,750 m). This is a functional acclimatization hike! You will leave some of these supplies at high camp and then return to base camp for the evening. Enjoy stunning views of the surrounding mountain range on this relaxed hike.

Today you will make the full move to high camp with the remainder of your gear. This trek covers some of the most beautiful mountain terrain you will experience here, as you hike past narrow gorges cutting through the mountain steppe, and finally work your way up a glacial moraine along the Mikhelchiran Glacier to reach high camp. You will start noticing the higher altitude as the landscape turns alien and alpine!

This morning you will head off on another acclimatization hike, this time suiting up for glacier travel and learning valuable safety skills such as self-arrest and rope team arrest that you will need for summit day. Your destination is the Lenz Rocks at 15,200 ft (4,600 m). Today you will get a full taste of what mountaineering is like. These 4 nights at high camp will be in the infamous “barrel huts” of Elbrus, or mountain shelters.

Rest day! You’ve earned it. Make sure to make the most of this day of relaxation and rest so you are strong and ready to go tomorrow on your long-awaited summit day

You will have an early start this morning from high camp, btw 1:00-3:00 am. You will ascend the Mikhelchiran Glacier to reach the saddle between Elbrus’s twin summits at 17,700 ft. Ascending Elbrus’s North Side while the sun rises is one of the definite highlights of this climb. From there it’s a (relatively) short push up the final summit cone to reach the western (highest) summit. After enjoying the summit for a few minutes and the incredible views of the Caucasus range, it’s time to begin your descent back to high camp. Remember, the ascent is only half of the climb!

In the event of bad weather on Day 8, today is your back-up summit day. If you have already summited, then you will pack up high camp and hike down to base camp for the night.

Today you will return to the town of Kislovodsk. Explore the town and soak in your last full day in the amazing culture of the North Caucasus mountains. Enjoy your first hot shower and night in a bed in over a week, and make sure to try the tasty local shashlik, or lamb kabobs!

This morning you will make the 1.5 hour drive back to the Mineral Waters airport in time to catch your outgoing flight to Moscow. Congratulations on summiting Mt. Elbrus!

Talk to an Elbrus expert today:

Your safety & success are our priority. Our guides:

What you’ll experience:

Included in Cost of Expeditions

One summit attempt (any departure from base camp on summit day or reserve day is considered a summit attempt)
All transportation, including airport pick-up & drop-off
Full board – all meals included
Unlimited coffee & tea
Lodging – 2 nights in hotels and 8 nights in mountain shelters during acclimatization
Group expedition equipment (cooking gear, ropes, etc.)
Professional mountain guides possessing mountaineering and medical training
Additional guides for summit attempt (1 guide/ 3 climbers)
Registration with Russian emergency search and rescue services
First-aid supplies
Entrance fees to national park
Extensive pre-trip planning, customization, & customer service

Not Included in Cost Expeditions

International and domestic airfare
Russian tourist visa
Rental of personal climbing gear
Booking a higher level of accommodations
Additional services requested at hotel (spa/banya, etc.)
Additional summit attempt (Paid on site to your guide)
Any change to the program that requires extra expense (any departure from the itinerary will be booked by you at your own expense)
Additional beverages at meals (non-alcoholic and alcoholic)
Professional photo/video services
Personal Insurance for climber

Required Gear

Items marked “Rental” are available for rent at Mount Elbrus.

Climbing Gear:

Climbing Backpack (25-30 liters) – Rental
Head lamp (with extra batteries) – Rental
Climbing harness – Rental
Nylon slings/runners – Rental
3 locking carabiners – Rental
Ice axe – Rental
Crampons – Rental
Mountaineering boots – Rental
Trekking poles – Rental
Sleeping bag (-10 deg C) – Rental
Insulated water bottle – Rental

Upper Body:

Hard shell jacket (Gore-Tex or equivalent) – Rental
Expedition Parka (heavy insulated “puffy”) – Rental
Light/Mid-weight insulated “puffy” jacket
Fleece hoodie/pullover
Synthetic base layer
Synthetic t-shirts

Lower Body:

Hard shell pants – Rental
Synthetic trekking pants
Insulated pants (fleece sweatpants)
Synthetic/wool thermal long underwear
Synthetic/wool underwear

Hands and Feet:

Synthetic/wool hiking socks
Synthetic/wool expedition weight socks
Gaiters – Rental
Hiking boots/shoes
Heavyweight gloves
Mid/lightweight gloves
Expedition weight mittens – Rental

Head Ware:

Balaclava/buff
Beanie
Sunglasses (100% UV protection) – Rental
Ski Goggles (100% UV protection) – Rental

Other:

Personal first-aid kit
Prescription meds (inhaler, EpiPen, etc.)
Personal toiletries & sunscreen

OUR GUIDES YOU CAN TRUST:

Sergyey

Years Guiding: 16

Successful Elbrus Summits: Over 200
Certification & Medical Training:
- Russian Mountain Guide Level 2
- First Aid/ First Responder
Other Experience:
- Backcountry Skiing
- Ski Instruction in Sochii
- Paragliding
Languages: Russian, English, Italian

Aleksey

Years Guiding: 15

Successful Elbrus Summits: Over 100
Certification & Medical Training:
- Russian Mountain Guide Level 3
- Avalanche Safety Training
- Professional Search and Rescue
- Paramedic
Other Experience:
- International Guiding and Ski Instruction
- Mountain Biking
Languages: Russian, English

Dimitry

Years Guiding: 19

Successful Elbrus Summits: Over 200
Certification & Medical Training:
- Professional Search and Rescue
- First Aid/ First Responder
Other Experience:
- International Mountaineering
- High Altitude Mountaineering
Languages: Russian, English

Oleg

Years Guiding: 7

Successful Elbrus Summits: Over 100
Certification & Medical Training:
- First Aid/ First Responder
Other Experience:
- International Guiding
- Backcountry Skiing
- Ice Climbing
Languages: Russian, English

Eugene "Johnny"

Years Guiding: 20

Successful Elbrus Summits: 193
Certification & Medical Training:
- Russian Mountain Guide
- First Aid/ First Responder
Other Experience:
- Extensive International Mountaineering
- High Altitude mountaineering in the Himalaya and elsewhere - Ski Mountaineering
Languages: Russian, English