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2010 Dates (22 Days):
July 18 - August 8
August 1 - 22
With Tarangire Safari:
July 18 - August 15
August 2-29
2010 Land Cost: $8,800 (call for safari prices)
SAVE as much as $700 by climbing both!
Climbing Grade: Beginner
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Join Mountain Madness for a journey to Russia and Africa two of the most exciting and dynamic places on earth. Climbing Mount Elbrus, the highest peak in Europe, and Mount Kilimanjaro, another of the Seven Summits, is an admirable feat and the best way to truly experience these fascinating parts of the world.
A volcanic massif located north of the Caucasus main ridge, 18,540-foot Mt. Elbrus rises almost 3,000 feet higher than surrounding peaks. The summit offers breathtaking views of the Caucasus Mountains and the impressive tributary valley systems feeding the raging waters of the Baksan River. The Baksan Valley offers trekking through fields of wildflowers, amongst poplar and pine forests. After acclimatization hikes in the Baksan Valley and a day spent reviewing skills, we take a cable car up the mountain to the shelters at Kharabashi. Here we spend several nights before our summit attempt. The climb offers great introductory level glacier climbing that includes the use of crampons, ice axe, and roped travel.
At 19,340 ft., Kilimanjaro is the highest mountain in Africa and the largest freestanding mountain in the world. Surrounding the base of this huge dormant volcano is tropical montane forest rich with unique flora and fauna. Further up, heath forest opens into moorland dotted with giant senecio and lobelia. A magnificent zone of rock and ice leads to the summit crater where sulfur gas still emits from the ash pit. Just above the crater floor is Uhuru Peak, the mountain’s true summit.
Although climbing Mt. Elbrus & Mount Kilimanjaro does not demand technical skills, good physical fitness and proper acclimatization are required to reach each summit. Skills will be taught on the slopes of Mount Elbrus enabling those with no glacier climbing experience to safely ascend the peak. Our experienced and knowledgeable guides are committed to helping each client reach the 18,540 and 19,340 ft summits safely.
Trip Highlights:
• Reaching the summit of two continents
• A step back into Czarist Russia and into modern day Moscow
• Kilimanjaro’s ecological diversity
• Singing with porters high on the slopes of Kilimanjaro
Tarangire National Park Extension
Tarangire lies to the south of the large open grass plains of southern Maasailand and is the best-kept secret on the northern safari circuit. It offers wonderful panoramas of wide savannah grasslands dotted with open acacia woodland studded with large Baobab trees. The density of game is second only to the crowded Ngorongoro Crater. This is a year-round park with distinct seasons offering different experiences, from dusty, dry and baking with animals clustered around the rapidly reducing river, to the fecund green season full of new-born animals and chattering birds. The only months to avoid are during the heavy rainfalls of April and May. Tarangire is a dry season refuge for many migratory animals (elephants, wildebeest, zebra, gazelles, eland and buffalo), that spend many months of the year outside the park on traditional grazing corridors linking Tarangire with other protected areas.
The safari portion of the trip will allow us to experience the beautiful landscape and wildlife of Tanzania with our highly knowledgeable Tanzanian guides. Our driver guides’ expertise on safari will make your journey not only enjoyable, but educational as well. We travel in Land Cruisers equipped with many windows to ensure that everyone has a great view of the spectacular landscape and animals of Africa. We stay in private deluxe camps and enjoy exquisite food throughout the journey. The Tarangire National Park area always proves to be a wonderful location for viewing rhinoceros, zebra, elephants, lions, and wildebeests. Mountain Madness is proud to offer wildlife viewing in Serengeti throughout the entire year.
General Information
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Included in Cost:
· Scheduled hotel nights, based on double or triple occupancy
· Food while on the mountain and scheduled restaurant meals
· Group climbing and cooking gear
· Airport transfers at the start of the trip
· Domestic flight from Moscow to Mineral Vody
Not Included in Cost:
· Airfare & domestic excess baggage fees in Russia
· Personal equipment
· Staff/guide gratuities
· Items of a personal nature; phone calls, laundry, room service, etc.
· Alcoholic beverages
· Airport taxes
· Medical/evacuation and trip insurance
· Hotels and meals while in transit Moscow-Amsterdam-Kilimanjaro
Qualifications: We suggest that you have some previous backpacking experience. Skills will be taught during this trip so mountaineering experience is not required. Climbers are expected to be in excellent physical condition.
Training Program: This trip is physically demanding and we cannot overemphasize the importance of physical conditioning. We suggest you begin your training program at least two months prior to departure. While strength is important, endurance training should be your primary focus. Walking up hills and stair climbing are both excellent ways to condition your lower body. Begin slowly, without the weight of a pack, eventually adding weight as you increase your training pace. Take a long hike (4-6 hours) several times with a weighted pack (up to 40 lbs.) up and down hills or on small mountains. (Weight your pack with water containers and pour out the water before your descent to minimize knee stress). Supplement this activity with running, cycling, swimming, racquet sports, basketball, etc. for additional aerobic conditioning. If possible, try to take at least two longer hikes of 6-10 hours with at least 3,000 feet of elevation gain. Several days before your departure, rest and drink plenty of water.
Food: Mountain Madness provides all of the scheduled in-town meals and food while climbing and at huts, but bring along your favorite munchies.
Trip Cancellation Insurance: We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation and travel insurance. This comprehensive travel insurance provides coverage for: trip cancellation and interruption, travel delays, loss of baggage and travel documents, baggage delay, medical expenses and emergency assistance. An insurance brochure is provided with all trip confirmations.
Questions: Call our office at 800-328-5925 or email us.
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ITINERARY
Included in the cost of your trip are scheduled group restaurant meals. All meals in the mountains will be provided.
Day 1: Travel
The first day is allocated for those requiring an overnight flight to Moscow.
Day 2: Arrive in Moscow
Arrive in Moscow where you will be greeted at the airport. You will be transferred to your hotel where we will spend the night.
Day 3: Moscow
We will tour the city of Moscow, including a visit to the Kremlin Cathedral and Armory. Overnight at hotel.
Day 4: Village of Terskol
Transfer to domestic airport for the two-hour flight to the city of Mineralnye Vody (Mineral Water) or Nalchik. Continue by bus to Baksan Valley where we stay in a hotel for several nights.
Day 5: Acclimatization
To prepare us for our summit attempt of Elbrus and to enjoy the magnificent Caucasus Range, we hike up the Adylsu Valley, a tributary of the Baskan River Valley or the observatory located on the flanks of Elbrus. Overnight at the Hotel.
Day 6: Skills
To further prepare us for the climb, we ride the cablecar and walk higher up to snow slopes where we practice crampon and other snow climbing skills. Overnight at Hotel.
Day 7: Barrels
Ride the cable car up to Kharabashi, which is Balkarian for “where black rock meets glacier” (approx. 12,800 feet). Here we settle into the comfortable barrel shelters. Enjoy a possible hike in the afternoon.
Day 8: Acclimatization
Today we will take a hike to Pastukhov Rocks (approx. 15,420 feet) and return for another night at the Barrels.
Day 9: Skills Review
Today we further review basic mountaineering skills. The afternoon will be used for rest and preparing for our climb.
Day 10-11: Summit Attempts
Two days are scheduled to make our summit attempt. We will increase our chances for a successful summit climb by riding a snowcat to just below our previous highpoint near the Pastukhov Rocks. If weather allows our group to summit on the first day we will descend the following day and have an extra day in the Baksan Valley.
Day 12: Descend to Baksan Valley
Spend the night at the Hotel.
Day 13: Drive to Mineral Vody Fly to Moscow, then fly to Amsterdam. Overnight in Amsterdam.
Day 14: Fly to Kilimanjaro Airport
Overnight in Arusha National Park at our private luxury camp. Night game drive on the way to camp!
Day 15: Rest and prepare at our private luxury camp in Arusha National Park.
Day 16: Umbwe Gate to Umbwe Camp - (9,700') 5 hours
The majority of the first day’s hike is through the Montaine Forrest. Lush vegetation with very old trees and lilts of ferns and mosses mark this as an area that gets reliable rain year round. The forest abounds with wildlife; small bushbuck & duikers, monkeys, and a rich and varied bird life. The first three hours or so is on gently rising land before steepening for the last two hours. The camp for the night is in a small clearing on the trail.
Day 17: Umbwe Camp to Barranco Camp - (13,000') 4 hours
Shortly after starting the hike the forest gradually gives away to the giant heath. The trail has been following a ridge for some time and as it ascends through the heath land the ridge narrows and sharpens, finally becoming knife edge with steep drops on each side. As the height of the heath reduces there are stunning views of both Kilimanjaro’s southern flank and across the Mount Meru some 50 miles away. The wildlife changes with the vegetation; jackals may be heard barking and the huge Lammergeyer seen circling overhead. The camp is overlooking the Barranco Valley with views up towards Arrow Glacier.
Day 18: Barranco Camp to Arrow Glacier - (15,800') 4 hours
The day starts in the unique Barranco valley with its lush vegetation and giant senisios. As the valley steepens we strike off up a scree ramp on the most direct route to Arrow Glacier. The vegetation is left behind as we move through old weather rock and alongside old lava runs. A final boulder slope brings us to the Arrow Glacier Campsite.
Day 19: Day Hike – Arrow Glacier - (15,800') 3 hours
This day is a chance to acclimatize and rest before the push to the summit. During the day we will take a hike up the Western Breach Route to familiarize ourselves with it and if necessary kick steps in the snow. This hike will also help with our acclimatization.
Day 20: Arrow Glacier to Summit, Descent to Mweka Camp - (10,500') 9-12 hours
Leaving at midnight we will wind our way up the Western Breach non-technical climbing route, about six hours to the crater rim. Moving around the massive Furtwrangler Glacier as the skies lighten we will see the shape of Mt. Meru to the west. Having crossed the crater plateau we begin the final 800 ft climb to the summit (19,340ft) hopefully arriving shortly after dawn. Having enjoyed the view we begin the long descent to Barafu Hut and down to Mweka Camp for the night.
Day 21: Arusha
It takes about 3 to 3.5 hours to make the 4,500-foot descent to the gate and pick-up. Here we will have our lunch and say goodbye to our mountain staff. We will return to Kia lodge for a shower, dinner and then will transfer to the airport for flights home. Fly home from Arusha, or if continuing on Safari overnight at the Kia lodge.
Day 22: Arrive Home or Leave for Tarangire Safari
For Tarangire Safari members: After breakfast we leave for Tarangire. Afternoon game drive, overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge.
Day 23: Game Viewing
Game drive in the park. Overnight at Tarangire Safari Lodge.
Day 24: Morning Game Viewing
Game drive in the morning, make your way back to Arusha. Day room, dinner, transfer to airport for flight home.
Day 25: Arrive Home
NOTE ON ITINERARY: Although we do our best to follow the schedule listed, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control.
HOW DO I SIGN UP? Please call our office if you do not already have an application, or you can download it off our website. We require an application and a $500 deposit for international trips. Please mail your application or fax it to 206-937-1772 to reserve your place on the trip.
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