Is hiking the 7 summits on your adventure bucket list? Mount Elbrus is one of the disputed of the 7 summits. Should it be on the list or not? Even if it doesn’t make the cut Mount Elbrus is still a formidable mountain and a challenge for any hiker.
I am set to hike this mountain in the coming months. This post is all the things I needed to do to prepare and will hopefully help you with your preparations in the future.
What are the 7 Summits?
The seven summits are the 7 highest peaks on each continent. To achieve the challenge of summiting all the seven summits, most people go based on either the Bass or the Messner lists. The only difference in the two lists is what they feel is the highest peak on the Australian continent.
The Bass list includes:
- North America – Denali (6,194 m/20,322 ft)
- South America – Aconcagua (6,961 m/22,838 ft)
- Africa – Kilimanjaro (5,895 m/19,341 ft)
- Asia – Mount Everest (8,848 m/29,029 ft)
- Europe – Mount Elbrus (5,642 m/18,510 ft)
- Antarctica – Mount Vinson (4,892 m/16,050 ft)
- Australia – Mount Kosciuszko (2,228 m/7,310 ft)
The Messner list is the same with Puncak Jaya (4,884 m/16,024 ft) replacing Mount Kosciuszko, which is in Indonesia, not mainland Australia. Also, most mountaineers also climb Mont Blanc in Europe as well. There is some debate over Europe’s highest peak because of the location of Mount Elbrus. But it is included in both the original lists.
Mount Elbrus Facts
Located in the Caucasus Mountains in Russia, this volcanic mountain technically has two summits. A western summit (5,642 m/18,510 ft) and an eastern summit (5,621 m/18,442 ft).
The best time of year to climb is between June to mid-September, though weather can still change in an instant and become blizzard conditions.
There are two main routes, the “Normal Route” which is thought to be the easiest, safest, and fastest route and includes a chairlift at the beginning. The lift runs from 9am to 3pm. The longer route is the “Kiukurtliu Route,” which starts below the chair lift system.
From there you can take the north or the south route to the summit. Heading from the north is more remote and is more technical than the route from the south.
Fun Fact: Mount Elbrus is thought to be home of world’s worst outhouse and is close to being the highest toilet in Europe.
Permits and Visas
You are required to get a Russian visa for this trek. It requires sending your passport to a Russian embassy or Russian visa center in your respective country. You will apply for a tourist visa, which lasts for 3 years and allows for multiple entries in the country.
Check the visa center closest to you to arrange for your visa. Make sure to begin the process at least 3 months in advance to ensure you receive your visa in a timely manner.
Traveling logistics
The trekking company you go with will recommend where to fly into, how far in advance and give you some direction on times to arrive by.
You will fly into Mineralnye Vody Airport, with the best connections from Moscow and St Petersburg. From there it’s a several hour drive to your starting point.
Follow the guidance of the trekking company, they know what they are doing.
Picking a trekking company
There are lots of options when it comes to trekking groups for Mount Elbrus. If you are interested in an all women outdoor trek, check out WHOA ($3,900), this is the company I will be trekking with. They provide you with guidance and everything you need to prepare for your trip.
Other companies include RMI expeditions ($5,300) and Alpine Ascents ($5,950.00).
What to bring
This trek is no joke and you need to be prepared. Most of the travel companies have extensive gear lists to help you get ready for your ascent. Check out WHOA’s gear guide to help you get started.
Don’t skimp out on the gear. Having good gear is what will make or break your climb. Though I should also mention that many of these companies will also rent out certain gear (like crampons and ice axes) if you don’t want to purchase them.
Concluding Thoughts
The 7 summits are a serious bucket list item for some. The famous response to why any mountaineer ever wanted to climb these mountains is, “Because they are there.” Once you start, you catch the bug and get swept up in the excitement of doing something few others have done.
Mount Elbrus is also considered one of the easier of the 7 summits and a good option for your first mountain.
Make sure to follow me on Instagram so you can follow along with my journey to the summit this July 2021. And to get you excited about climbing mountains make sure to check out my first climb up Mount Katahdin, the highest mountain in Maine.
