Mount Elbrus is a dormant volcano located in the Caucasus region of Russia, near the border with Georgia. It’s also one of the highest peaks in Europe at 5,642 meters. Enroll with SummitClimb for Elbrus expedition at affordable cost. The average team size will be around eight. SummitClimb runs K2, Ama Dablam, Manaslu, Lobuche, Island Peak Climb too.
The mountain has four main climbing routes: The North Face, The South Face, The West Ridge and The East Ridge. The North Face is considered to be the easiest route, but it can still be dangerous due to crevasses and falling ice. The South Face is known for being steep and difficult; it’s also used for ski mountaineering competitions. The West Ridge route is considered to be a good intermediate option for experienced climbers who want to avoid crevasses or falling ice. Finally, the East Ridge route is considered to be more challenging because it involves steep sections with icefalls and avalanches; however, it does have better protection from wind than some other routes because it’s on the side of the mountain that faces away from prevailing winds.
The North face Route is considered “moderate” difficulty, with most groups requiring around three days to summit. The route starts at a base camp on the mountain’s northwest side and climbs through forests until reaching a sharp ridge at around 6,000 meters (19,685 feet). From there, it follows a series of rocky ridges before reaching an area known as “the saddle” at 7800 meters (25,700 feet). This is where most climbers begin their final ascent towards the summit (which sits at 8900 meters or 29,029 feet).
The South face Route takes roughly one day longer than the North Route because it begins at an elevation of 3000 meters instead of 4000 meters like on other routes—this means that it doesn’t require as much uphill hiking before reaching base camp.
If you’re looking for something more challenging, try the west ridge route on Mount Elbrus. It’s a lot steeper than the northern route and requires some tricky scrambling over boulders and scree fields. It’s not recommended for beginners or people who aren’t in good shape because they’ll need to carry all their own gear up this route as well as reach high altitudes quickly (approx 2-3 days depending on fitness).
Alton Clarke was born and raised in Syracuse. He has written for MSNBC, The Business Insider and Passport Magazine. In regards to academics, Alton earned a degree from St. John’s University. Alton covers entertainment and culture stories here at Diving daily.