Elbrus is the highest point of the Caucasus Mountains. Its height is ambiguous: the eastern peak of the two-headed mountain is 5,621 meters, and the western peak is 5,642 meters. Elbrus is located on the border of two republics of the Russian Federation: Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia.
Let’s try to figure out how to get to Mount Elbrus and why this destination is so attractive for travelers.
Why does a climber climb Elbrus
Climbing to the top is a test for the body, the disclosure of human capabilities and abilities. Everyone who decides to do this wants to prove to himself that he is capable of accomplishing something unbelievable or a little more than unbelievable. In exceptional cases, and with a great desire to stand out from the rest, brilliant ideas arise - to pull a barbell on a mountain, for example, and perpetuate the act in the memory of guides and everyone who once finds themselves on top. In addition, climbing Mount Elbrus guarantees an experience for years to come from a breathtaking beauty.
"Seven peaks"
Another reason why climbers storm Elbrus is that the mountain is considered the top of the European continent in the Seven Peaks program, in the version that involves the conditional division of the Eurasian continent into Europe and Asia along the watershed of the Caucasian ridge. In the second version of the division, the Mont Blanc peak in France is included in the program instead. The "Seven Peaks" has been of serious interest to mountaineering enthusiasts from around the world for thirty-five years. Sooner or later, a man who is carried away by the mountains becomes infected with the idea of reaching Elbrus as the starting point for the program.
In part, the popularity of Elbrus is due to its accessibility for beginners who have not previously climbed the mountains. However, accessibility is a relative concept and implies a combination of four factors that will or will not allow to make a successful top. These include: the climber’s physical form, weather conditions, acclimatization to the highlands and a small fraction of luck. If the novice climber does not suffer from self-confidence and makes the climb with an experienced instructor who is able to correctly assess all four factors, the likelihood of a fatal outcome is eliminated, and success is increased, but not guaranteed.
Therefore, every climber who has the idea to visit all the peaks of the program once wonders: "How to get to Elbrus?"
Way east
It should be remembered that Elbrus is located in the deep Caucasian province.
Therefore, even a traveler from Russia will have to figure out on which messaging routes to get to Elbrus and how to simplify the process. There are three options: by plane, by train and by car. Dog teams and horse-drawn carriages, due to the first dependence on snow and the second on its absence, are not taken into account.
Aircraft first thing
The nearest airports to the summit are in the city of Nalchik, the capital of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic and in the city of Mineralnye Vody, Stavropol Territory. The road to Elbrus from the city of Nalchik takes much less time, but only two flights a day arrive to the tiny airport, and both from Vnukovo Airport in Moscow.
Therefore, an obvious and simple option is how to get to Elbrus - through Mineralnye Vody. The airport accepts flights from Moscow, St. Petersburg, as well as a number of major Russian cities: Yekaterinburg, Chelyabinsk and Rostov-on-Don.
Long-distance trains
It is possible to get to Elbrus from Moscow by train, which leaves from the Kazan station to Mineralnye Vody or immediately to Nalchik. Travel time is twenty-two to thirty hours. A day is enough time to feel the romance of the railway and not get exhausted before a difficult climb, and in addition, the method allows you to save and carry baggage, not limited to the norms on the plane.
Acclimatization and climbing Mount Elbrus require a large number of camping equipment, so this choice makes sense. But the cost of travel and travel by train is about the same, therefore, if there is no advantage, both the meaning and time of vacation are lost.
Not a luxury, but a vehicle
The car allows you to fit all the necessary equipment, independently determine the route, number and duration of stops, easily reach both Mineralnye Vody and Elbrus, and drop into the nearest small towns, drink mineral water, head to the mountains and stop in interesting places. Travel time from Moscow will be from twenty hours, excluding stops. The road from Mineralnye Vody to Elbrus passes through picturesque places, so the ability to stop, take pictures and enjoy the surrounding nature is of particular value.
Destination
Let's say a tourist got to Mineralnye Vody Airport or Nalchik. And then what? Mineralnye Vody is a small town not marked by outstanding sights, therefore it acts only as a transshipment point between the world, mineral springs and Elbrus. In summer, you can get to Elbrus from Pyatigorsk, as well as from Essentuki, Kislovodsk and other cities of the Caucasian Mineral Waters, where there are many options for excursions for inexperienced tourists and vacationers who do not plan an independent ascent, but only expect to ride the lift to the highest possible height.
In addition, a great option would be to rent a car with delivery to the Mineralnye Vody airport, the cost per day is from 1,300 rubles. But if the climber plans to climb to the top with a guide, then the guide’s job in this case is to organize the transfer of people and equipment from the airport to the mountain. For an attempt to get to the village of Terskol, which is located at the foot of Elbrus, by public transport is similar to laughter, because first you need to get to the city of Nalchik, and from there take a minibus for two hours to Terskol.
In any business, the main thing is motivation. Therefore, when deciding to climb Mount Elbrus, a tourist should seriously think about his physical condition and preparation of equipment. And the question: "How to get to Elbrus?" - is decided along the way. Is a climber, firmly confident in his intentions, to stop before the problem of moving in space. In the end, you can always use a dog team or a horse-drawn carriage, depending on the season: there would be a desire.