“Vortex of Happiness” on Elbrus

We are kick­ing off the Russ­ian climb­ing sea­son this year with a cus­tom trip for two with MM Guide Alan Rousseau! They are already enjoy­ing the beau­ti­ful Cau­ca­sus region and are excit­ed to move up to the bar­rels to start their climb soon. There’s still time to join one of our 2 oth­er trips this year. Call us to find out more about our Elbrus and Elbrus Express itineraries. 

Greet­ings from Russia,

The first phase of our acclima­ti­za­tion is com­plete! I met Steve and Ellen in Moscow three days ago, since then. We have trav­eled to Cheget a small town that sits at the foot of Elbrus. 

We have spent the last cou­ple days hik­ing in the 7,000−11,500′ range with our Russ­ian guide Vladimir, who is so well con­nect­ed in Cheget we have begun call­ing him ​‘the mayor’! 

All pho­tos by Alan Rousseau

The use of ski lifts has allowed us to reach good ele­va­tions with­out too much exer­tion, a key in ear­ly acclima­ti­za­tion. Every­one is feel­ing great, and is blown away by the beau­ty of the Cau­ca­sus range. An hour into today’s hike Ellen said she was in a ​“vor­tex of hap­pi­ness”. We head up to the bar­rel huts on Elbrus tomor­row with an unset­tled fore­cast, but we are in good spir­its, over the jet-lag and ready to see what con­di­tions the moun­tain gives us!

~ MM Guide Alan Rousseau