Height: 5,642 metres (18,510 feet)
Location: Russia, Europe
Summit date: 20 July 2004
Route taken: Terskol route
Located in the western Caucasus Mountains in Russia near the border of Georgia, Elbrus has two summits. The west and tallest summit is 5,642 metres (18,510 ft). The east summit is slightly lower at 5,621 metres (18,442 ft).
The lower of the two summits was first ascended on 10 July 1822 by Chelar Hashirov, an Kabardin guide for a Russian army scientific expedition led by General Emmanuel. The higher west summit (by about 40m or 130 ft) was summitted in 1874 by a British expedition, including F. Crauford Grove, Frederick Gardner, Horace Walker, a Swiss climber Peter Knubel and a Balkarian guide Ahiya Sottaiev.
The standard route up Elbrus is long and strenuous but not technically difficult. It is physically arduous because of the elevations and the frequent strong winds. The biggest danger is the weather which can be particularly harsh on this mountain. During the summer, up to 100 people will attempting the summit via the normal route each day.
Chicks’ reflections – “We didn’t celebrate on the top, because most fatalities occur on the way down, because you are too exhausted and delirious to get proper purchase on the ice. We took some photos and then turned quickly. It would be another five hours before we reached the barrels. But we had made it. All of us! To the highest point in Europe. That afternoon, the rope team and our 500kg of luggage all returned to the valley. It had been a big 24 hours.”
“I just really love these mountains. They are so beautiful. And the challenge of it all makes life and my head feel sane again.”