climb Mount Elbrus
actionchallenge on Mount Elbrus Our ascent of Mount Elbrus begins in the foothills of the lower Caucasus. Elbrus, an inactive volcano, is one of the famous Seven Summits and, at 5,642 m, is the highest mountain in Europe. It’s a fantastic, rewarding challenge - all you need is an adventurous team spirit, good fitness and two weeks out of the office.
We begin our challenge from Kislovodsk, in the heart of the lower Caucasus. From here we carry out acclimatisation climbs, ascending progressively higher each day, practicing our crampons, rope and ice axe techniques. From Base Camp we climb through the rocky moraine of the Mikelchiran Glacier to our next camp at 3,800 m far above the grasslands, with stunning views across the glaciers and the lower Caucasus range. Together we make the climb to Lenz Rocks, crossing several crevasses, and prepare for our bid to reach the summit of Mount Elbrus.
The ascent to the top is tough but exhilarating, beginning with a glacier climb to the saddle between the two summits at 5,416 m. We work as a team to climb up the next steep section to the ridge and, after a final short push, we reach the summit at 5,642 m. We are rewarded with a breathtaking view over the Caucasus from the highest point in Europe.
Back in the spa town of Kislovodsk we celebrate our ascent to the summit of Mount Elbrus with a traditional Russian sauna, dinner and fine chilled vodka with our new friends. at a glance trip highlights
● Activity: Trekking - Altitude ● Take on one of the seven summits of the world ● Location: Mount Elbrus, Russia ● Trek through the heart of the lower Caucasus ● Duration: 12 days / 8 - 9 days trekking ● Climb through the Mikelchiran Glacier ● Difficulty: Tough ● Use crampons and practice ice axe techniques ● Distance: 40 km ● Stand upon the magnificent Lenz Rocks ● Group size: 15 -25 ● Peer from the highest mountain in Europe ● Indulge in a classic Russian sauna
Action Challenge have been leading inspirational team adventures across the world for individuals, private groups, charities and corporate clients since 1999. Our trips enable people to experience the world’s most exhilarating locations, often in aid of charity. At the heart of every challenge is team spirit and fulfilment; together we take on once-in-a-lifetime adventures, achieve formidable goals and forge friendships for life.
www.actionchallenge.com Climb Mount Elbrus
introduction This fully-inclusive adventure to the summit of Mount Elbrus will begin as soon as you Please visit our website for more details register! You will receive a challenge pack including a training guide, kit list and discounts for all the essentials you may need. If you are raising money for a charity, we will sort out all the formalities so you can concentrate on your own preparation and fundraising. We offer pre-challenge briefings and training weekends in the UK, where All inclusive trip cost from £2399 (2018/19) you can meet our trek leaders, members of your group and others taking part in Initial £399 deposit to sign up challenges around the world. On the day of departure you will meet your group and Action Challenge leader at the airport in London. Whether you’re joining the challenge Three payment options available on your own or with others, you will instantly be made to feel welcome. As a team we will Please visit our website for more details board our flight to Moscow, ready to take on Mount Elbrus and the climb of a lifetime! brief itinerary
Day 1 Depart London Day 7 Acclimatisation climbs Day 2 Kislovodsk Day 8 Acclimatisation climbs Day 3 Base camp 2,500 m Day 9 Elbrus Summit 5,642 m Day 4 Acclimatisation climbs Day 10 Base camp 2,500 m Day 5 Acclimatisation climbs Day 11 Kislovodsk Day 6 High camp 3,800 m Day 12 Arrive in London what’s included
• International and domestic flights Action Challenge trek leader Full support team, including local guides UK medic The Mount Elbrus climb is a tough All accommodation challenge at altitude, over a prolonged All meals, except in free time period of time. The highest point stands Treated drinking water at 5,642 m and the terrain is varied with All transfers in local vehicles some steep uphill climbs so a good level National Park entrance fees of fitness is required. Celebration dinner in Kislovodsk Training weekends in the Peak District, Brecon Beacons & Snowdonia Fitness and training guide Discounts from UK retailers Why not stay on after the challenge and Reduced rates at Nomad Travel Clinics and Masta Health explore some more of Russia’s highlights?
Please email us for more information
July and August are considered the best months to climb Mount Elbrus.
Temperatures are usually higher than in the previous months whilst the snow is often firmer and gives a better footing for the climb.
+44 (0) 207 609 6695 www.actionchallenge.com [email protected] Climb Mount Elbrus
itinerary
Breakfasts each morning will be in camp. DAY 1 - Depart UK Lunches will be en route and evening meals will be freshly prepared in camp in We depart from London for our flight to Moscow. time for your arrival. In Kislovodsk, all meals will be at the hotel or a local Meals: L,D* Accom: Flight / Hotel * *(dependent on flight schedule) restaurant, except in free time.
All meals are full of carbohydrates, protein DAY 2 - Mineralny Vody and nutrients to keep us well fuelled throughout the trip. We arrive in Moscow and change terminals for our two hour domestic flight to Mineralny Vody. On arrival, we transfer to the town of Kislovodsk, the last town before the lower We can cater for all dietary requirements steppes of the Caucasus. At our hotel we meet our local guides who’ll be with us for our if informed in advance. journey. This afternoon we have a full briefing and organise our gear for the climb.
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel
• 2/3 nights in a comfortable 2/3* hotel in Kislovodsk / Mineralny Vody • 4 nights in tents on the trek DAY 3 - 5 Mt. Elbrus Base Camp • 4 nights in huts on the trek
We leave the luxury of our hotel and set off on a four hour drive that takes us into the All accommodation is on a heart of the foothills of the lower Caucasus. We stay in Mt. Elbrus Base Camp at 2,500m dorm/twin/triple-share, single-sex basis for three days to carry out acclimatisation climbs. We ascend progressively higher each and we will pair you with someone of a day to 3,100 m and 3,800 m, taking supplies to our next camp and practicing our similar age, where possible. crampons, rope and ice axe technique. If you wish to share a room with someone Meals: B,L,D Accom: Tent you are travelling with, please specify this on your registration form.
DAY 6 - High Camp
Today we start early, heading for High Camp. We climb out of the high grasslands and If you decide that you would like to have into the alpine zone, with stunning views across the glaciers of Mt. Elbrus and the lower your own room / tent on the challenge, we Caucasus to the north. The last stretch of the climb leads over the rock moraine of the can accommodate this in the majority of Mikelchiran Glacier before we arrive at our camp. places.
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hut Please email us for more information
DAY 7 - 8 - High altitude acclimatisation 3,800 m - 4,800 m • Insurance - approximately £60 • Travel Visa - £90 We base ourselves at High Camp for two days to further acclimatise. On the first day • Vaccinations - up-to-date on boosters. we climb up to the Lenz Rocks before spending a more relaxed second day in • Tips for local staff - recommended preparation for our bid to reach Elbrus summit tomorrow. amount £30 • Airline fuel surcharge / supplement as Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hut applied by airlines.
+44 (0) 207 609 6695 www.actionchallenge.com [email protected] Climb Mount Elbrus
DAY 9 - Elbrus Summit
This is a long and tough day; we wake very early to prepare for our summit attempt. We A kit list will be sent to you on receipt of focus on a sustained climb across the glacier to the saddle between the two summits at registration. Many everyday items can be 5,416 m. Here the route steepens as we climb the next couple of hundred meters to the used on this challenge, and we offer a kit ridge. The final slope is an easier climb and in less than half an hour we reach the hire service to keep costs down. summit. Standing on the roof of Europe, weather permitting, we will be looking out across the magnificent Caucasus range. We return to our mountain refuge and rest after a long hard day. If you are planning on travelling to Russia Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hut before the challenge or wish to organise your own flights, we do offer a land only option, with a significant discount off the trip price. You will be required to meet DAY 10 - Base Camp your group at the hotel on day two of the itinerary. We continue down to Base Camp for the night. In the event of bad weather, this day can be used as an extra summit day or for extra acclimatisation. Please email us for more information
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Tent
DAY 11 - Kislovodsk
We make our way from Dzhily-Su to Kislovodsk where we relax and soak our tired muscles in a traditional Russian sauna. After days at altitude and our ascent to the summit of Mount Elbrus it’s time to celebrate our achievement with a meal and, of course, a chilled Russian vodka or two.
Meals: B,L,D Accom: Hotel We run a number of training weekends throughout the year in the Peak District, Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia. These DAY 12 - Flight home are fully-inclusive - 2 night’s accommodation and all meals. We also We leave early in the morning for our return flight from Mineralny Vody to Moscow . organise training days in London and the Here we catch the onward flight back to London. North and South downs. On both, you will get the chance to meet our mountain Meals: B leaders and test out your kit and fitness!
• Alcoholic drinks • Drinks and food outside of meals, other than water • Personal kit / equipment • Airline fuel surcharge / supplement as applied by airlines.
+44 (0) 207 609 6695 www.actionchallenge.com [email protected] Climb Mount Elbrus
payment options A REGISTRATION DEPOSIT of £399 for 2018/2019 is required to secure your place, ATOL is a scheme that protects you from paid in full, by card at the time of registration. losing money or being stranded abroad if your travel company collapses. Action Once registered, there are 3 PAYMENT OPTIONS to fund the balance of the trip cost. Challenge is 100% ATOL bonded, which Full details are on our website. provides you with full financial protection. On receipt of your registration fee, you will 1) SELF FUNDED receive an ATOL certificate explaining For anyone who wants to pay for the entire trip themselves. It’s then completely up to your protection. you whether or not you choose to raise any money for a charity of your choice.
The total all inclusive cost of this trip is £2,399 (2018/2019), which, after you pay the £399 Registration Deposit, leaves a balance of £2,000. This final balance is due for payment 10 weeks before your departure along with any fuel surcharges levied by the airline.
2) SPONSORSHIP FUNDED This is for anyone who wants to take on this challenge and will link it with fundraising a significant sum of money for a charity of their choice. You would have to raise at least £4,000 (2018/2019) via sponsorship and donations from friends, family and colleagues, and be confident at the outset that you can achieve this total. To book on to this challenge, please visit Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraising our website; www.actionchallenge.com goes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least £4,000, your charity for a full list of prices and all available will pay for the balance of your trip costs to Action Challenge. That balance, paid by your dates. charity, is £2,000 for 2018/2019 (the same as if you were you were ‘Self Funded’) - the charity will retain at least £2,000 to help fund their work. You will have to pay any airline fuel surcharges 10 weeks prior to departure. If you are a charity, business, school or 3) MIXED FUNDED private group with a minimum of 10 A mix of the 2 options above! You pay about half the trip cost yourself, and also people and fancy your own bespoke trip, fundraise for your charity. They pay the remaining balance of your trip costs. Ideal for please call us on +44(0)207609 6695 or anyone who wants to take on the challenge and also fundraise for a charity, BUT is you can send us an email to happy to pay a reasonable proportion of the trip cost themselves, which with your [email protected] for more registration deposit, is set at a level that covers at least the costs of flights & information. accommodation; perfect for those who feel more at ease asking for sponsorship in respect to the ‘challenge’ component of their trip.
Pay the Registration Deposit and nominate a charity to fundraise for. All fundraising @actionchallenge goes directly to your charity and providing that you raise at least £2,400 (2018/2019), your charity will pay a portion of your trip cost to Action Challenge. That balance, paid by your charity, is £1,200 (2018/2019). At the same time, you will be required to pay the www.facebook.com/actionchallenge remaining balance yourself, which will be a figure of £800 (2018/2019). These two amounts add up to the same as the ‘Self Funded’ final balance - the charity will retain at least £1,200 to help fund their work. You will have to pay any airline fuel surcharges 10 weeks prior to departure. Action Challenge UK Ltd Unit 1, Gunnery Terrace Royal Arsenal Woolwich London SE18 6SW United Kingdom
+44 (0) 207 609 6695 www.actionchallenge.com [email protected]