Yesterday the group flew from Mineralyne Vody in the Baksan Valley to Moscow. Last night was spent celebrating a fantastic, memorable and special trip. Sean said there were super emotional goodbyes all around this morning. Half the crew are going touring to St Petersburg, Pern etc, while Sean, Vivien, Michelle, Keith and George depart from […]
We did really well until 4400m the day before yesterday when the weather started deteriorating. George was suffering with the meanest dose of gippos and I watched him blits out of his tent in the pounding snow with his thermal pants around his knees.
We left for the summit at 2.20am on Sunday (George went down […]
Received a message at lunch time that the team has hiked down and are having Shashlik kebabs at the cable station. Everyone is stoked. They would have reached Terskol villiage by now and will be spending time relaxing at the hotel and enjoying the oxygen rich air. Tomorrow they depart for Moscow.
Wisey keeping cool
Brief message from Sean was that the weather was atrocious today – ‘a complete whiteout’. So a few turned back with Sean escorting them down, while Ugin (Russian guide) and the rest of the crew carried on to the summit. Franz, Marlette, Fabrice, Mike, Martin, Patrick and Catherine made it to the summit. The entire group is now safely at the high camp and […]
Today’s climb will involve the use of ice axes and crampons up to Pahtukhov rocks at 4800m where they will set up camp, rest, recover, rehydrate and eat as much as they can in preparation for Sunday morning’s summit bid – departure at approx 3am (although colder, the weather is usually much calmer early in the morning, […]
‘What a day! We’re in Camp 2 at 4000m. George has been hilarious after his stomach bug came back strong – this time with dyslexia. Baksan valley is Buscan valley. Imodium tablets are amonium tablets. He’s been keeping us very amused. Big dump of snow now – we’re tucked in camp and about to go to […]
‘We’re at 3800 meters and it’s snowing like Christmas. Our gift today was the magnificent view of the Caucasus mountain range. Everyone is tucked in camp on the glacier – eating our dinner of smash and tea. Viv and Michelle are giggling – they’re having fun and I’m sure they can’t believe what they’re doing. George was a […]
Marlette and Miki have uploaded great pics of the trip on their blog – see Camp 1 http://mikimollysummitelbrus2010.posterous.com/
Message last night: “Brilliant weather today – beaut! Everyone is psyched and well acclimatised after today. Back at the hotel and are busy packing late with an early start tomorrow (Thurs). Everyone will be carrying their own gear including tents and tucker – the packs are full -20kgs’.
Sean sounds in great spirits. Today’s climb involves ascending by the Elbrus […]
Message received last night from Sean ‘We’re in Terskol and going well. It’s raining! Had the best Shasklik beef kebab ever for lunch’. The mountain rule of eat, eat, eat would have no doubt been enforced by the waitress – don’t cross a Russian waitress by not finishing your food.
Today is an acclimatisation day and the plan […]
