The Mount of Happiness

Lama proverb says: «If you want to escape crowds - you must live I the sky among clouds". The same words can be said about the world of mountaineers - people who always ascend mountains for happiness, for adrenaline, for new feelings and splash of emotions. One trip like this gives a huge amount of power and strength to a man that are kept to the next time.

There is one mount in Russia among the numerous amount of interesting and captivating ones that is eager to be seen and to be ascended from people from all over the world. The usual name of that mount is Elbrus - the highest peak in Europe (5642 m). It's located in the south of Russia in Kabardino-Balcarian republic. The most beautiful place - there are 6 fivethousand-mountains among all 7 that are in the Caucasus. But there are no words to describe the smell of the Alpiens, of the pine forests, the sound of the silver waterfall, the taste of the local mineral water - narzan. It's better to see once.

Elbrus looks like magnificent giant put in irons of ice armor. The mount of happiness as it sounds in the kabardinen language. The third name of the mount is Mingi-Tau ( the balcarien language). Elbrus - is the two-head mount. Two summits - the west 5642 m and the east - 5621 m.

Before climbing Elbrus one must pass acclimatization - gradually ascend to the different heights. The first step of acclimatization is to settle in the Azau valley (2200 m). If you don't have your own equipment the "Alpindustriya"-team helps you - qualified personnel chooses clothes, plastic boots, crampons, poles and all needed. You may choose all these in the first day. The next day is Mt. Cheget that means "standing in the shadow of Elbrus" (3400m). When you stay in the very top of Cheget you may observe the whole panorama of the Elbrus region - all mountain rivers, Elbrus itself, the waterfall "The plait of the Girl", observatory, the whole massive of the Main Caucasian Range, Terskol, all the hotels, the eternal glacier "The Seven". And air!!! After city-air it seems to you that you can't breathe.

After Cheget you may climb the winding road of observatory (3400-3500 m) with another loading - to endurance.

The next step - is Barrels (3800 m). You can take the cableway. The stages and there is another height again. You'd better to stay a day at Barrels - to wander and enjoy being among the magnificent mountains. Then Then comes the most interesting - Pastukhov Rocks. Mr. Pastukov was the first man who made the map of Elbrus with all its glaciers (23). The height is 4800 and you can't climb without crampons since you climb over ice. If you feel that you are ready - then go to the mount of happiness!!! You'd better be accompanied by the qualified guide.

Here's happiness - there's the cascade of mountain massifs behind you, there's wonderful sunrise to the right that you wish to stay for a while to meet sun!!! But Elbrus is waiting for you. Staying in the summit of a mount you feel like you staying in the summit of the World.

Feel yourself free. Free from everything that holds you firmly, holds by feet and arms with past. You are in another measuring - in the vertical one.

15.03.2008

Tour-Life.com