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Title image - BAI takes you to: Mt.Elbrus
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Elbrus Expedition Dispatch

June 26, 2009 – What is an Easy Day Like?

There were sore muscles after yesterday’s long acclimatization climb. We all slept long and hard. John won the sleeping award, getting up for a quick hot drink and breakfast just before we loaded up for another day.

Today we rode chairlifts to gain elevation for our acclimatization climb

Today we rode chairlifts to gain elevation for our

acclimatization climb

Today we used the chairlifts at Cheget Ski Area to gain altitude before we began climbing. The ride up was beautiful with green summer Caucasian mountain meadows all around and our goal, the white summit of Elbrus off in the distance.

We climbed over snow and rock and reached our high point for the day, which Steve Rossi named “Rossi Peak”. Vladimir and Karina and I know that hundreds of climbers will stand on this point in the next weeks in their own attempts to acclimatize for Elbrus, but we just smiled and decided that for today at least this would be Rossi Peak, elevation 11,350 feet.

On the way back down the lift system to Cheget, Karina told us she need to stop off for few minutes at a café near one of the mid stations. This place is known for it’s excellent Pirojok, fresh fruit pies. She brought a bag of piping hot blueberry pirojok pies to us in a bag at the bottom of the chairs. They were delicious.

BAI climbers have been fascinated by the local markets at the base of the lifts at Cheget for years. On this sunny afternoon we enjoyed checking them out. We will likely get to return before our time here is over, but several of us took advantage of the opportunity to buy some things. Others of the group sat in the sun and enjoyed watching people walk by in the clear mountain air.

Later when we left Cheget, we stopped at a couple of mountaineering stores. Winston is renting much of the technical gear that he needs for his Elbrus climb. He tried on double boots and found a pair that fit nicely and got his crampons this afternoon.

We got back for saunas with plenty of time this afternoon. Nothing feels better on tired muscles…

On the ride up Elbrus looked small in the distance

On the ride up Elbrus looked small in the distance

Today’s summit was 11,350 feet. Steve Rossi deemed it “Rossi Peak”

Today’s summit was 11,350 feet. Steve Rossi deemed it “Rossi Peak”

Group photo from the top of “Rossi Peak”

Group photo from the top of “Rossi Peak”

Steve Boles was still smiling

Steve Boles was still smiling

Back at Cheget we enjoyed the fresh  blueberry pirojok pies that Karina bought for us

Back at Cheget we enjoyed the fresh blueberry pirojok pies that Karina bought for us

There is great shopping at Cheget. Jackie shows us her spoils

There is great shopping at Cheget. Jackie shows us her spoils

Jackie and Terri back at the sauna, relaxing after another great day!

Jackie and Terri back at the sauna, relaxing after another great day!

John Bank

Left: John Bank

Right: Winston