Why are you better then others? - this question very often sounds in many forms.

  1.Acclimatization. Our climbing includes interesting acclimatization program. Spending nights on passes (Garvash 3400) and real alpine-climbing to Lazga (don’t need special training). If you will read programs of other firms attentively, you’ll see that all of travel time (8-10 days) they spend on Elbrus sides – believe, it is rather boringly.

  2.Cheaper. Ukrainian living standard lower, than Russian, and especially than Moscow. Our Elbrus tour costs 320 EUR, this is 100-200 EUR cheaper than in Moscow firms under such conditions.

  3.We don’t guide 12-20 people crowds, therefore in our tours have not duties (where to set up camp, when is time for dinner, what food and how much should be taken etc.) Tour is based on expedition principles, and all of questions are solving deliberatively. It is reasonable that it solves within our sufficient severe views on safety.

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I haven’t hiked yet. I don’t know, is my training so well for climbing.

Elbrus climbing is difficult, but is quite in common man power. You’ll see that other 50-60 years people will ascend with you. Especially many elderly people are foreigners. Perhaps, if you are able run 2-3 km, and fell yourself well, so you will climb of Elbrus with great facility. Other questions is how you survive height. It is impossible to know it earlier. Women survive it easier than men. They are naturally have more hemoglobin. So climbing to Elbrus is real possibility for you to experience yourself and your abilities.

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I have read your list of Elbrus climb closes. So, I have will-power to climb, but I haven’t enough closes. What should I do…?

An optimal list, approved fore years, is placed on this site. There is no something unnecessary in it. Furthermore, all of mentioned things should be taken certainly. Of course, the best materials and producers are named there, and if you’ll be buy that, with 1500$ you`ll be short of money. But it is not so terrifying. Instead Polartec 200 you may take any heavy synthetic jersey, and instead Gore-Tex there are cheaper more other ones or simply raincoat. It is the best goods are named on site. And the worst is "as far as possible". For example, I am an instructor, but really a half of my closes is "second hand". To take unnecessary close is not so frightful, you may deposit it in camp or in Azau.

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And what about mobile connection? Where it is picking up?

In all Baksan Canyon mobile telephones picks up.
Fron Elbrus sides you may call to any place and tell the entire world about your victory!!! The most popular operators are "Megaphone" and "Beeline". "Beeline" is picked up better on Elbrus sides, "Megaphone" is in Adyl-su and Adyr-su canyons. At the top all telephones aren’t pick up any operator.

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I have read the recital here about 4 men wanted to celebrate New Year on the top of Elbrus, but in the total, they had waited by good weather for a week and so did not climb (it was really terrible wether). Would it be that we will not get there?

Concerning weather. Indeed, weather the most important factor at an ascent. And it almost half of days is not friendly to the ascent. It is, as it said "catch weather". But if we’ll stay on 10-12 days so I think we will catch weather certainly. That is, an ascent on Elbrus is a great deal a lottery which played off with us by the weather. If it is sunny, so it is possible become sunburn, and if it is not and it is windy, so it’s time for hide. Before if it’s foggy nobody climb on a top, now having GPS, chances were considerably increased. Thus, all is not so terrible.

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Is there a shower in Barrels or shelter number 11? Well, it is a normal human desire.

Our trip begins in a\c "Ullu-Tau" there are all of comforts. And in Barrels, there is no shower at all alas, but to warm water is not a problem. A lavatory building is outdoor. Shelter 11 is higher only on 300 m (40-60 minutes of walking)than Barrels, but there is not even a light, but we may save for two hours during an ascent. On Barrels or Shelter 11 we will rest from 3 to 5 days in depend on the weather. So, it is just strained with a shower. After an ascent – go downward to Azau, there are all of comforts.

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And, what we should do, if you did not meet us? Or did we missed each other on a road?

There be a strong presumption against it, but if it such happened, at first endeavour to call on mobile of instructor: in Priel'brus'e 7(928) 958-67-51(mobile works only in days collection of group). If it is not, then go straight in a\c "Ullu-Tau", that is in Adyrsu canyon (don’t mix up with Adylsu). The canyon of Adyrsu begins at Overhead Baksan village. At first you should ride to Tyrnyauza, and then to Overhead Baksan, it is over 11 km in a canyon from a settlement to alp camp, it is possible to drive up on a car. Charges (within reasonable limits) for our account. In this alp camp you will easily to find us, just ask a "Path" club from Dnipropetrovs’k.

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At what age is it possible to accomplish ascents on Elbrus?

Children under 14 years - we do not accept, from 14 to 16 years – just with parents or attendant. Attendant must have a notarized warrant from parents. If you are full the company, we do exceptions, assume participation of children with parents and as a rule we stipulate for the single tour program.

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How much weights, except for the individual things, will it be public things (meal and etc)? ?

A public load will be nearly 5-6 kg But if it will be heavily, an instructor will help. Sometimes, someone takes video camera or guitar, for example with itself, certainly to disburden him is sainted business. (By the way we have a lot of films shot by our participants, which we can send). To ascent you take only a thermos+a snack and warm jacket.

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I have a question yet, about an instructor (on all of time of hike) and an ascent instructor? How many persons usually go with one instructor? What is done, if someone on a half-way to the top will understand that can’t go any longer, instructor will open out all of group (or bury that man)?

Just one instructor will be with you all of time (on all of time of hike) and on an ascent. For 5 persons in a group. -1 instructor. A maximal group is 10 persons – thus, 2 instructors. From a route a man countermarched either with an instructor or with another instructor (or a group), which is going down downward. as a rule a lot of groups climbs up on Elbrus and already in 3-5 hours some going downward groups appear. This group as though take the first group of persons interested to halt an ascent. Except this, there are groups which accomplished an acclimatization output, they also return earlier. But, if there is indeed nobody to help return, that improbably, but possibly, all of group returns. Returning without an instructor is strictly forbidden.

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What charges are planned during a tour besides aforesaid 320 EUR yet. How many and what for?

All of charges are included in the cost of tour. Just one , remind you, residence is in tents. If you have a desire to live in cottages and shelters, it is necessary to pay in addition on the spot nearly 200-250 RUR\day. Besides this sum it is necessary to have money on a road from Azau village to Pyatigorsk (Minvody), it is no more than 200 RUR. That is why, very often, someone hurry and wants to back home earlier, and someone has nothing against to walk more? You will need money, if you want to take advantage of services of a retrack (it is such tractor for getting up uphill). This summer all places in a retrack costed 250 EUR to Pastukhova rock (4900м.), takes 8-10 persons. And you will need money if you will want to taste national dishes such as shishkebab, khichiny, shurpa, and this will can’t do without alcoholic.

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A "storm" backpack is taken on an ascent. Where I will leave the basic backpack. Will it be paid/free of charge? Secured or not?

A large backpack and all of things will leave in a tent. I did not hear that stealing had happened there yet. You should always keep documents and money with yourself. But if you are afraid! I think it is possible to leave things in local ECM. And, there is a baggage room down in Azau.

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I have excellent physical condition, regularly go in for sports, but my weight is 110 kg. May it be a limitation for an ascent? Will I drift far away on ice? :)

Weight is not a disadvantage, but as a rule, stout people survive a great height worse and drink much water on a route. I think there are no problems in technical safety. Elbrus is a declivous mountain and usually there is a lot of snow on sides in summer. Thin and thick persons have the same probability of insanity and it depends not on weight, but from your coordination and confidence in itself.

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Please, say what is better to go with ski sticks or with an ice-axe?

With ski sticks it is easy to hold a balance, especially on wind. You will feel more steadily and probability of falling down is very small. But fallen down (sh*t happens) - you will not too long of sticks. With an ice-axe, holding a balance is worse, but it is possible to catch hold too long at falling, if you are able to do it. Therefore for "masters" it is better to go with an ice-axe on dangerous areas. And we advise novices to go with sticks, and on dangerous areas to fasten on one rope with an instructor (it will merrier to fall together).

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Oh! And one more question yet. What is the most favourable season for accomplishing of ascent?

The second half of July and first half of August is considered the most favourable period, it is the most warm time in Priel'brus'e. But if to talk about a number of favourable days for an ascent, means the weather, June or September not worse and not better. But season is never the same twice. In real there is more snow in canyons in June, hat by the way better at passing of mountain passes or for example for passing of track round Elbrus, as cracks are densely closed by snow yet. September is good, that a district is practically empty. There are places everywhere, there are not turns and as habitation price fall so transport price fall too. We consider that a period June-September approximately equivalent for an ascent.

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For some reason we are often asked: - do only Ukrainians or all people?

Certainly, we lead all people. Caucasus is home as for us, as for Russians the same. Caucasus is the most popular district for the Ukrainian alpinists. Approximately 80 % of our participants are Russians, and Muscovites are a half of them. I think it is explained by low ukrainian living standard at present. All more frequent Germans and Israelites began to appear. There were Finns, Bulgarians, and Scots.

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A few "iron" indissoluble advices how to overmaster Elbrus!

1. Certainly tell all of your friends about the intention to overmaster Elbrus.

2. Present a posy to a beloved girl (to the wife or girl-friend), and solemnly devote the ascent to her.

3. Hang up the large photo of Elbrus on a wall, and looking mentally repeat - "I’ll make you".

4. At work, promise a chief, that a standard (emblem, logotype) will be solemnly raised by you on a top. May be he will give money.

5. Purchase the most expensive equipment which nowhere can be used by you, except on Elbrus.

6. A month before an ascent give up drinking and smoking. Tell all, that it is for the sake of victory.

7. Collect a company and already now prepare to the ascent.

8. Remember - nothing so strengthens confidence in a victory as a complete pre-pay.