Elbrus Expedition Dispatch
July 8, 2014 – A Special Summit Day
July 8th was a very special summit day for a superb team of BAI climbers and guides as we reached the summit of Mount Elbrus together.
Tom Gormley, at 14, became the youngest BAI climber to reach the summit of Elbrus. Lesley Suranyi, who was born in Hungry in 1942 and who has practiced medicine in Canada since 1975, was not our oldest-ever Elbrus climber but he certainly deserves honorable mention!
We were proud that our team of guides and climbers represented 5 countries, Canada, Sweden, USA, Ukraine, Karbidino – Balkaria in the Russian Federation.
Here are a few more photos from and amazing day.
Vladimir B. set the pace and led the entire way to the top.
Neil above 5000 meters
Karina above 500 meters
Slowly climbing higher
Vladimir B.
Our friend Anatoly showed up to shoot as we climbed toward the Saddle at 5300 meters.
Leslie climbing with his guide Alec
Leslie’s power secret, gel packs!
The lonely climb into the Saddle
Don on the Saddle
Vladimir suiting up for colder conditions before we climb higher
Karina and Micheline walked to the summit arm and arm, just at 12:00 P.M.
Left: This was the third of the Seven Summits for Dan Gormley. He has also climbed Kilimanjaro and Aconcagua ; Right: Just as he did on top of Kili and Aconcagua, Neil had a special task to do for Shannon.
Team on the top of Europe!
It was Leslie’s idea to have our banner made. Karina got it printed in Nalchik and Alec and Leslie proudly displayed in on the summit.