Somewhere between the time I graduated from Colorado State University on May 16, 2008 and June 16, 2008 (the time I got to enter the real world as a working adult in Carbondale, CO) I was doing my best to squeeze in a peak outside the states.

In the end I settled on Mount Elbrus, located in southern Russia near the border with Georgia. Elbrus is the highest peak in Europe and one of the 7 summits.

The Bags are Packed.

Our journey to Russia took us through Chicago followed by a direct flight to Moscow. It turns out that we happened to be on the inaugural flight to Moscow, complete with smoked salmon and caviar served at the gate.

The gourmet buffet at the gate.

A little over 9 hours to Moscow, a night in the airport hotel, a 1 hr drive across Moscow to the other airport, a 2 hour flight to Min-Vody, a 3.5 hour van ride and we found ourselves in the minuscule town of Azau, the base of Elbrus. The day was June 4th, 2008.

I spent the rest of the day unpacking and repacking for the next few days on the peak. The base of Elbrus is a ski resort, complete with 2 trams, 1 gondola, and a single chair up to about 12,000 feet.

June 5th, 2008

My day started with riding two trams in a row up to about 11,500 ft.

Leaving Azau.

I think I’m on that tram.

The upper chair lift was not working at this time of morning, so out came my skins. Some friends of mine had coincidentally planned roughly the same travel schedule as me, and were at the barrels when I arrived.

Derek Dreschel, Brandon Chalk, Kristine, and Rob Schnare were packing up to head up the hill to a hut known as the diesel hut. I had met Derek before, but the other three were new aquaintances now. I waited around for them to finish packing up and we started the walk up to the diesel hut.

Elbrus is on the left.

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