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Mount
Elbrus 5642m Expedition
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PHOTO:
View of the Mount Elbrus from across the Baksan Valley,
with the ascent route marked.
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FEEDBACK:
"A brilliant expedition. If there was any critisism,
it would be that you don't make
enough of how interesting this extraordinary region
is, on your website" Terry K, Rugby, 2001
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BREAKING
NEWS... Elbrus expeditions suspended
Tourism around Elbrus has been suspended in response
to several recent terrorist incidents. The UK Foreign
& Commonwealth Office advice could not be more
clear "We advise against all but essential
travel to North Ossetia, Karachai-Cherkessia and
Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area)".
It would be dangerous and irresponsible for us to
operate any trips to Elbrus, and we would be negligent
to do so against this advice. For your safety, all
our Elbrus expeditions are suspended. Click on the
RSS logo to the left to read the informative article
on the situation published by the Alpinist magazine.
In response to these latest attacks, we confirm
that our Elbrus trips are confirmed as cancelled
until further notice. |
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| Expedition
Overview |
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At
over 800m higher than Mont Blanc, Elbrus is the
“Seventh Summit” of Europe. In terms of
technical difficulty, it is easier than Mont Blanc,
though the importance of acclimatisation is far
greater. |
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The
mountain is an extinct volcano, conical in shape,
with a crater rim on which the twin summits are
perched. The higher west peak is reached by a steep
snow climb from Sedlowina saddle, the col separating
the peaks. |
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We
fly in and out of the local Caucasus town of Mineralyne
Vody, from London Heathrow via Moscow. The flights
we have chosen maximise our time on the mountain,
whilst minimising the amount of time that you have
to take off work for the expedition. |
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The
accommodation we use in the Caucasus varies from
hotels in the valley, to mountain huts such as the
famous Barrels Hut on the mountain. |
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Currently NO Dates:
Please note that currently all Elbrus expeditions
are suspended, following the UK Foreign &
Commonwealth Office Advisory on the region. Click
on the logo to the right for further information
on the region. The current advice reads "We
also advise against all but essential travel to
... Kabardino-Balkaria (including the Elbrus area),
since terrorism and kidnapping in these regions
remain a serious problem". We support the
FCO "Know Before You Go" campaign (click
for details).
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| When
will this change?: If you are interested in
a future Icicle Elbrus expedition, we advise you
to get in contact with us to register your interest.
As soon as the FCO Travel Advisory changes, we will
inform all those who have expressed interest. We
hope that the situation will change in time for
the 2010 season. |
| Why
are others running their expeditions?: You will
find several UK based operators still offering trips
to Elbrus. No reputable operators are offering trips,
and those that are offering trips are acting against
FCO advice. In event of any problem, your insurance
would likely be invalid, and you could incur massive
costs. |
| Availability:
For availability on our other courses and expeditions,
please click
here. |
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Course
Photo Gallery
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Expedition
groups and experience
Our
formula is to restrict the group sizes, so that there
are a maximum of 8 clients. The small group sizes enable
us to run specialist ascents, where the group can bond
well, and each expedition member has great access to all
the Icicle staff, and local guides and porters. This is
more intimate than the mass group commercial style expeditions
run by some operators, where the individuals needs and
speeds cannot be catered for. Although
you require no previous mountaineering experience for
this expedition, you are advised to be a competant trekker
who is familiar with up to six hour days with 1300m height
gains. As you will note from the itinerary, this expedition
is quite intensive in order to ensure your acclimatisation.
Upon booking you will be sent an expedition dossier &
training training schedules. |
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Who
is the expedition aimed at?
This expedition
will appeal to those who have ascended Mont Blanc, or
one of the other major Alpine peaks, who want to step
up a gear in terms of altitude. It will also appeal to
those who have been on very formal commercial expeditions,
as ours is deliberately flexible so that you can ascend
some other interesting routes as well as Elbrus. While
the mountain is one of the Seven Summits, it is one of
the most enjoyable to climb, as the Alpine approach is
used, and there is no need for seige style tactics, porters,
or time consuming walk in's. |
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Expedition
Price and Inclusions: £899
The expedition costs only £899, and is fully
inclusive of all likely costs, including: return
airport transfers (Mineralyne Vody to the Baksan
valley), half board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) accommodation,
and all peak permits and costs for leaders. The
expedition will have a maximum of 8 clients, in
addition to the leaders and staff (local Guide(s)
who
lead on the
climbs, and an Icicle Leader
to assist with
local logistics). The only cost that you have to
budget for is the flight to Mineralyne Vody. Upon
booking, all clients will also receive a course
specific kit list and an equipment discount voucher,
from a range of UK outdoor stores. |
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| Icicle
Elbrus Expedition Itinerary |
| Sat |
Fly
to Mineralyne Vody Airport, then the approx 3 hour
transfer to the Baksan Valley. Transfer to the hotel
in Baksan, evening meal, expedition briefing, and
equipment queries. Night in hotel. |
| Sun |
This
day is spent on an acclimatisation ascent, and getting
familiarised on crampons again. Usually you take
in a good summit, with views of Elbrus and Ushba.
Night spent in the Baksan hotel. |
| Mon |
Ascend
the cable cars and climb to the Barrels hut. If
you have energy, you can ascend further to the old
Priutt hut, before returning to the Barrels hut
for the evening. Night spent in the mountain hut. |
| Tue |
Today
is an essential acclimatisation ascent to the Pashtukov
Rocks, high above the Priutt hut. Here you get good
views of the Sedlowina saddle and Ushba peak. Night
spent in the mountain hut. |
| Wed |
A
day that is deliberately flexible to allow for an
early summit bid, an extra acclimatisation route,
or a rest day spent at the high Barrels hut on the
mountain. Night spent in the mountain hut. |
| Thu |
Summit
day, which usually involves approx 9 hours of ascent
from the Barrels hut to the summit. This is the
West Peak of Mount Elbrus, above the Sedlowina Saddle.
Night spent in the mountain hut. |
| Fri |
This
is a spare day for a summit attempt, or for those
who summited yesterday, it is the descent from the
Barrels hut back to the Baksan valley. Celebratory
meal in the hotel. Night in hotel. |
| Sat |
Breakfast
in the hotel, then time for shopping for souvenirs
before the return airport transfer to Mineralyne
Vody airport, then the return international flight
via Moscow. |
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| ITINERARY
NOTES: Where possible we follow the itineraries,
but as mountaineering is always weather and conditions
dependant, we are sometimes forced to alter the
plans. If this is the case, a suitable different
route will be attempted, and you will be informed
at the first suitable opportunity. Please use this
outline course itinerary as a guide to the style
of expedition, with good conditions, as it will
not necessarily be an exact blueprint for the exact
routes and schedule that you will follow on the
expedition. |
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Course
Photo Gallery
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| Previous
Skills & Fitness |
| Previous
Skills
- A
good level of competence (stability) on crampons
is a bonus, and previous skills level to those provided
by an Introductory Alpine or Winter Skills course.
Level of Fitness
- Good
to High aerobic
fitness level. Upon
booking you will be sent an expedition dossier &
training training schedules. It can be viewed (and
even printed) by clicking on the link to the right. |
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| Course
Prices |
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Elbrus
Expedition
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6
days guiding, 8 days in total |
£899 |
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+
2 days in Moscow
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6
days guiding, 10 days in total
(2 nights hotel in Moscow for sightseeing)
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£1099 |
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Secure
online booking system |
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| Standard
Course Inclusions: 1) Elbrus guides for daily
leading, 2) Icicle leaders if group has six or more clients,
3) Pre expedition Info Booklet, 4) Equipment discount
voucher for in UK, 5) All hotel and hut accommodation
in area on a full board basis, 6) Road transport in region
and airport transfers, 7) All costs for expedition leaders,
local guides and porters, 8) We provide all communal equipment
(you provide your own clothing, mountaineering boots,
and climbing equipment). |
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| Exclusions:
1) Travel to & from Mineralnye Vody airport, 2) Travel
insurance, 3) Bar / restaurant bills & tips, 4) Evening
meals on the first and last night in area (budget on £10
per night), 5) UK and foreign airport taxes, optional
trips, souvenirs and tips, 6) Your personal laundry, telephone
calls, and any purchases in mountain huts / hotels / restaurants,
7) Extras before course: personal activities insurance,
& excess baggage charges. |
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Group
leaders can go for FREE
If nine people book
together, the group organiser (tenth person) goes
for FREE. This offer applies to either private or
scheduled Elbrus expeditions. Sounds too good to
be true? Well it is as simple as it sounds, and
there is no catch. You get the £899 Elbrus
Expedition completely for free. We only ask that
all the booking forms are sent together, and you
can take advantage of this amazing offer.. |
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Icicle
expedition kit bag for FREE
All those booking on
this course are entitled to a free Icicle expedition
kit bag. This tough c.75 litre capacity kit bag
is designed for full expedition usage and is made
out of durable and waterproof rip-proof material.
It normally retails at £50. Postage within
the UK is included in the prices. If you live overseas,
it's not a problem at all. We'll let you know the
price for postage. Want a second bag? Order another,
click
here. |
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