Mount Elbrus is a stunning volcanic peak located in the Caucasus Mountains of Russia and at 18,510 feet it is Russia’s, as well as Europe’s, highest peak. Situated between the Black Sea to the west and the Caspian Sea to the east, Mount Elbrus rises majestically from the high green plains that stretch northward into the heartland of Russia. Just to the south of the peak lies the main body of the Caucasus Mountains, a range that rivals the Alps with their stark rugged beauty.

The climbing season on Mount Elbrus extends from May to September, with the highest summit success rate from mid-July to mid-September. October through April comprises the rainy and winter seasons.

We offer two different route options for climbing this mountain; the South Side, starting in the Baksan Valley, and the North Side, approaching from Kislovodsk.

The trip begins several thousand miles to the North of Mt. Elbrus in Moscow—the political, economic, and cultural heart of Russia. We will walk across the cobblestones of Red Square, in the shadows of St. Basil’s onion-shaped domes; cross beneath the thick walls of the Kremlin and visit the seat of Russian power; and visit many of the city’s other famous sites like the Pushkin Museum and Tverskoy Boulevard.

We then fly south the town of Mineralnye Vody, well known for its abundant mineral springs. For the South side route, we leave the high plains of Mineralnye Vody and head towards the Baksan Valley (7,000 feet). It is a beautiful drive that passes through many small villages and fields before the plains give way to glacier-scoured foothills. Once past the foothills, we make our way through steep valleys of the lower Caucasus and pine forests until reaching the foot of Mount Elbrus. To approach the North side, we drive to the neighboring town of Kislovodsk, which marks the transition from the fertile high plains of Russia, to the lush green foothills of the Caucuses. After spending a night in Kislovodsk, we drive south into the heart of the of the wild and barely inhabited Caucuses steppe to reach our Basecamp.

Upon returning from our climb we fly to St. Petersburg. Situated far to the North of the country on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, St. Petersburg is a true Russian gem, often described as the “Venice of the North”. We spend a full day exploring St. Petersburg’s stunning architecture, amazing works of art, and many canals. The city tour includes; The Hermitage, which has over three million works of art, and some of the most beautiful interiors of any building the in the world, St. Issac’s Cathedral, one of the world’s largest cathedrals and has been fully restored inside an out, and the Church of the Savoir on the Spilled Blood which is still one of the city's most beautiful landmarks. Our time in St. Petersburg is the ideal way to end our adventures in Russia.

Both the South Side and North Side routes involve very little technical climbing, though a prior knowledge of rope travel, the use of crampons, and ice axe arrest are necessary. A review of these basic mountaineering techniques is included in the itinerary.

Team members should be in excellent physical condition and posses a positive mental attitude, two factors that are vital to the success of any climbing expedition. This climb is ideal for mountaineers eager to take their climbing to a new level—for many it will be a new altitude record!