Elbrus Expedition Dispatch

August 3, 2010 – Two More Beautiful Days in the Mountains

On August 2, the guys went with Karina and Vladimir on one of BAI's traditional warm up hikes in the Elbrus region, the hike up a steep trail to the Kashkatash Glacier. The perfect weather seems to be continuing and they sent us some great photos. Today they did a longer, but much less steep hike to the Observatory beneath the East Summit of Mount Elbrus. Jack has informed the Berg Adventures office in Canada that the team is now known officially as “Team Mimi’. We consider it an honour to be hearing from two members of the Hudgins family as they attempt to reach the highest point in continental Europe on Mimi’s 75th birthday!

Jack’s dispatch on August 3: This is Jack with today's dispatch. Today Karina went shopping for food and the rest of us went for about a 20km hike to a pretty amazing viewpoint. The three of us (Jack, Scott, and Vladimir) took in the glacier waterfall shower on the way up to the lunch stop at the old altitude science observatory which has now been christened Hotel Mimi and proudly presents the appropriate signage.

Yesterday's hike to Kashkatash was very steep and rocky. Scott faired very well and I looked like and old man coming down. The scenery was amazing.

We are being taken care of greatly. Also, those at home should know both Vladimir and Karina have summited Elbrus approximately 100 times each, so we are in good hands. More humbling is that Karina has participated in a run up the mountain and won a silver metal. She is an amazing athlete.

Here are some photos from our trek up Kashkatash yesterday. The weather was nice and we had some great views of Elbrus.

Tomorrow we move up to the Barrels.