Elbrus Peak Expedition (5642m) – Russia

The Main Caucasian Ridge stretches for 1200 km from the West to the East, from the Black Sea to the Caspian. Its width reaches 180km, and it forms not only a geographical, but also ethnic and political barriers, separating Russia from the Caucasian region and its mosaic of nationalities. Greater Caucasus is traditionally divided into three regions: West Caucasus, Central and East Caucasus. The borders of these territories go along meridians that cross the Main Ridge over Mt.Elbrus (5642 m) in the West and Kazbek (5033 m) in the East. It is between these two giants that the most beautiful and interesting peaks stand, withmore than forty of them surpassing the level of 4000m above the sea. It is here where seven caucasian fivethousanders arise their heads to the sky. Among the variety of regions composing the Central Caucasus, it is the Elbrus Region that is a genuine gem. Many lateral valleys go aside of the main one where the river Baksan flows. They lead to the famous peaks of the Caucasus, such as Donguz- Orun (4492m), Shkhelda (4300m), Tchatyn (4368m) with its vertical 500m North Face, the legendary Ushba (4710m) and of course, Mt.Elbrus (5642m), the highest summit of Europe which surpasses Mt.Blanc, by more than 800m. The two-headed ice giant crowns the panorama of the Central Caucasus. Volcano craters, filled now with ice and snow, form summit plateaus of 300-400m in diameter on both the tops. The Eastern Peak is a little lower than its western brother: 5621m and 5642m respectively - both are covered by a gigantic ice cap.