Hi!

I'm looking for informations about winter climb on Elbrus. Because of some reasons I can only do it from mid. February.

What kind of weather can be there?
How many snow (in upper part and during approach)?
What is average time of waiting for good weather?
Is chair lift working?

Any other informations are welcome (about mountain and way to it)

I asked on forum.mountain.ru, but got no answer...

Marcin

What kind of weather can be there?

I don´t think the climb itself would be that hard in winter, but it will be COLD. We had -28C in late September. I imagine mid February is extremely cold.

Scott wrote:

What kind of weather can be there?

I don´t think the climb itself would be that hard in winter, but it will be COLD. We had -28C in late September. I imagine mid February is extremely cold.

I know. This is to be a warm up (cold down?) before something more serious. Of course if I manage...

i heard that Elbrus is a very nice skitour. ideal to go with ski, but a little bit cold

does anyone know the ~slope angle & "(cruxes?)"of the standard route? avi danger could be an issue. I understand it is fairly easy to get up to the "barrel huts" in the standard season by a bus or a tram or something,,, If you were to go in the winter, where/what elevation could you expect to start from? could you expect to start from the "barrel huts"?

thanks

I just gather informations... In winter day is short and way up and down is quite long, so maybe better idea would be to start higher. If it is possible to camp somewhere.

I think about winter 7000+ But that is only shy idea, because first
I must succeed on Elbrus.

Marcin

No, I can't ski.

a friend of a friend used to ski on standard 2x4 wood planks in Russia, no joke. I didnt hear what he used for a binding though.

elbrus sounds like a great, challenging trip with reasonable travel expenses.

Marcin - cheers; let us know how it turns out, and maybe i'll see you up there!

with snow shoes are very demanding!

anyway with ski

danhelmstadter: does it mean you also go there in winter? Maybe you can answer to some of my questions? Because there is a nice discussion here, but I don't know more about winter conditions on Elbrus

Try posting your questions on Pilgrim Tours' message board:

http://www.pilgrim-tours.com/forum//phpBB2/index.php

It was helpful for my climb (end of May).

Marcin- I will try to make it this winter, the airfare expense is reasonable for flying halfway around the world, but the price is still a lofty sum. It might still be cheaper than denali though, and i would like to get high this year.


Elbrus has the reputaion of being one of the coldest mountains in the world, and also deadliest. but so does mt. washington... I am sure that qualilty "artic" weather gear is needed. Although the climb up the standard route sounds like it is fairly straight forward, not steep enough to be scary, but steep enough for avis if the conditions are "right". The length of the climb from the barrel huts "sounds" like it is not very long. I do not want to insult you by telling you obvious commen sense precations like going when the weather is good etc...

I will let you know if my Elbrus plan materialize,, likely sometime on febuary,,, mostly depending on cheap airfare etc.... take care

danhelmstadter: What does avis means? I try to find it in dictionary, but I can't.

HI
to cho_mik
If you want to start from high altitude you can camp on the rocks of Pastukov. I spend a day there in the last summer . May be it is possible to camp there in winter .I think it is the highest plase you can camp . Although i've heard someone made a camp on the saddle ,but it was in summer