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- Nov 18, 2010
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Elbrus Summit Dispatch!
![](https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSoQ3cENUnzI%2FAAAAAAAAAeE%2Ft66xwIgVAZk%2Fs320%2FBoy%2Bis%2Bit%2Bcold%2Briding%2Bthis%2Bsno-cat%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bdark%2B.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=300&s=fc720cd6a7efc6b58e00861827091cc2 300w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSoQ3cENUnzI%2FAAAAAAAAAeE%2Ft66xwIgVAZk%2Fs320%2FBoy%2Bis%2Bit%2Bcold%2Briding%2Bthis%2Bsno-cat%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bdark%2B.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=500&s=8849353d8fb119dd04b2c5d58a2b07a5 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSoQ3cENUnzI%2FAAAAAAAAAeE%2Ft66xwIgVAZk%2Fs320%2FBoy%2Bis%2Bit%2Bcold%2Briding%2Bthis%2Bsno-cat%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bdark%2B.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=700&s=acde05d58255e52e0d9ffdaf387aa2bd 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSoQ3cENUnzI%2FAAAAAAAAAeE%2Ft66xwIgVAZk%2Fs320%2FBoy%2Bis%2Bit%2Bcold%2Briding%2Bthis%2Bsno-cat%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bdark%2B.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=800&s=120bc93edd6137004bcf3292b092b36b 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSoQ3cENUnzI%2FAAAAAAAAAeE%2Ft66xwIgVAZk%2Fs320%2FBoy%2Bis%2Bit%2Bcold%2Briding%2Bthis%2Bsno-cat%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bdark%2B.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1000&s=6d2597779234f7cfa9a7f4897397ea18 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSoQ3cENUnzI%2FAAAAAAAAAeE%2Ft66xwIgVAZk%2Fs320%2FBoy%2Bis%2Bit%2Bcold%2Briding%2Bthis%2Bsno-cat%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bdark%2B.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1200&s=3aa4dca7ff38532b667b48228fdf2a1a 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSoQ3cENUnzI%2FAAAAAAAAAeE%2Ft66xwIgVAZk%2Fs320%2FBoy%2Bis%2Bit%2Bcold%2Briding%2Bthis%2Bsno-cat%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bdark%2B.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1400&s=dcd8202609dfbb223f2afba76c179622 320w, https://mountain-madness-external.imgix.net/http%3A%2F%2F3.bp.blogspot.com%2F_JN7DyNvD1ow%2FSoQ3cENUnzI%2FAAAAAAAAAeE%2Ft66xwIgVAZk%2Fs320%2FBoy%2Bis%2Bit%2Bcold%2Briding%2Bthis%2Bsno-cat%2Bin%2Bthe%2Bdark%2B.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&q=80&w=1600&s=a21c996beb0ac8cef61d894daf558cad 320w)
(More photos from this trip on our flickr and facebook pages)
We are back in Terskol after a successful trip. Steve Pigott, Joe DeHart and Hanse Ringstrom made the summit under clear skies with windy conditions on August 11th with local guide Soltan Kochkarev. Honorable mention to Dave Smith for achieving a new high point of 5000 meters.
We made our initial ascent to the barrels in bad weather on the 8th of August. The 9th proved to be even worse than the day before as we made our ascent to Pastakhov Rocks for acclimatization. After a well deserved day of rest at the barrels camp waiting for the weather to improve, the group got on the snow cat at 4 AM to begin our ascent to the summit. It was initially very cold, but the snow was firm and made for easy cramponing up the slopes above the Pastakhov Rocks. It was not until the headwall below the summit that progress became slower due to soft snow conditions. As the team approached the summit they were battered by fierce wind that threatened to knock them down at every step. In the end they were victorious, standing on top of the highest point in Europe. Mount Elbrus is 5,642 meters high. A worthy summit for even experienced climbers.
See you all next year in the Caucasus!
Geoff Unger
Baksan Valley, Russia