From Sean early this morning – Wind howling, cloud still the same. We are all going down.

The group will return to Terskol today and spend tonight in relative comfort at the Povorot hotel.

From Sean – Everyone is going down tomorrow – except Nico and me.  Elbrus looks like its on fire – black, grey and white sickles of cloud thrashing angrily. The wind is going mental…

Nico and I are going to wake at 4am tomorrow and see what the weather is doing – there may be a window…

Brief message from Sean – we got revved by the weather at 5300m – turned everyone back. Looking at Tuesday morning as a possibility…

From Sean – we’ve just got our first view of the massive summit of the west peak of Elbrus. The weather has been hectic but it seems to be stabilizing. The wait today might be worth it. Excitement is building in the camp. We start at 2am tomorrow morning.

Everyone is resting up […]

From Sean – we pushed up to Pastukhov rocks (4700m) this morning and after a 6 hour round trip, we are all back at the camp (4300m) enjoying cups of hot tea.  Everyone is recovering and doing well.  Weather is volatile – it’s windy but clearing. Rest day higher up tomorrow and […]

Just heard from Sean that they are camping at Priyut Hut tonight instead of going down to Garabashi Station. It’s snowing down and they are all tucked into their sleeping bags.

After breakfast at the hotel, the group will transfer to Azau Glade and then ascend via the Elbrus cableway to Garabashi station (3750m). The climb begins up to the ruins of the Priyut Hut (4050m). After spending as much time higher up as the weather allows, the group will then descend back down to Garabashi station. Overnight in tents.

Group pic during yesterday’s acclimatisation hike.

Today is an acclimatisation day. The group will hike to Cheget Glade (2100m) and then ascend by cableway to the upper station. From the station, they will hike up along the ridge or to the top of Mt Cheget (3410m).  They will return to the Povorot hotel tonight.

‘A tiny restaurant in the middle of nowhere, serving the best grilled Mountain Sheep you’ll ever taste!’  From Marthinus’ Facebook page.