Elbrus Expedition Dispatch

July 24, 2008 – Beautiful, Clear Day in the Caucasus Mountains

It’s the 24th of July and I’m calling your from the top of a summit at 3,500 meters above sea level (about 11,400 ft). It’s a glorious, clear day in the Caucasus Mountains. We have a 360 degree view of the spectacular mountains all around.

We are looking across the border into Georgia with the big glaciated peaks on that side of the border, standing tall on the southern horizon. Of course, I’m looking north at those imposing twin summits of Mt. Elbrus. I have been climbing in the Caucasus Mountains for 14 years now and I’ve rarely seen a day this clear.

The entire group walked up to the top of this little peak from the valley. We first rode a chair lift and then Vladimir and Karina said that we should not take the second chair lift ride that was available to us to bring us to a higher elevation, they said for our acclimatization it would be to walk. So we walked up the ski runs and got on to the rock ridge and now as I described to you, we are in a really spectacular setting. Just another day of acclimatization in the Caucasus now we are going to ride both chair lifts back down. We’ll get back down into the valley for some snacks and local culture at the markets and the Cheget ski area and we will back in our lodge tonight.

Things are going great in the Caucasus Mountains. Elbrus is still a few days away but we are looking up there with a great deal of anticipation for a great climb. Stay tuned!