Elbrus Expedition Dispatch
July 13, 2009 – Warm Weather, Clear Sky: A Great First Day of Trekking in the Caucasus
Vladimir, Richard and Nicky take to the trail
Karina Mezova has been reporting to the Berg Adventures office in Canada about Richard and Nicky’s visit to the Caucasus Mountains. They will attempt to reach the summit of Europe’s highest mountain, Mount Elbrus.
The high frozen wastes that lay over 5000 meters elevation on Mt Elbrus must seem far away to Richard and Nicky now on the first days of their Russian trip. When Karina called from the Minieralnye Vody Airport where she picked them up yesterday, she said “wow, it is really hot in Min Vody today!” Of course coming from Gibraltar, Richard and Nicky are used to hot weather, but we are sure that the cool evening mountain air must have felt good to them by the time they arrived at our lodge.
In the morning, our team of four including BAI guide Vladimir, left the hotel at the leisurely time of 10:00 AM. Their destination was the wild and beautiful Kurmychi Valley. As you can see from the photos they sent, the weather was magnificent!
The temperatures got warm in the middle of the day and Karina said there was absolutely no wind.
The team was back at the road head by 4:30pm – a good first day’s leg stretch.
Tomorrow they will head for Kakhiany Peak, which will be a much longer day.
The sun drenched peaks seemed to be melting today
Karina identifies Aviatsia Peak
A leisurely lunch break in the mountain sun
A happy couple in the Caucasus!