Sometimes half the challenge of climbing can be just getting to the mountain and this is very true when it comes to climbing Elbrus in Russia.
Researching and choosing the right expedition company to support you and help guide you through all logistics, as well as be there for you on the mountain is important. You want to do your homework so you feel 100% confident in your choice and can focus on the climb.
We encourage you to look closely at both the big picture and the small details. Look at a company’s priority on safety, the quality and experience of their guides, their reputation, and their level of ‘care factor’.
Safety & Success
Your safety and success are the top priorities, in that order.
An expedition company should invest heavily and plan extensively for your safety.
They need to have extensive understanding of the unique environment you are in and demonstrate that they know the nuances of the climb and the dangers of the peak. Elbrus is a climb that is often underestimated. While technically straight forward enough, it can be subject to extreme weather conditions and white outs.
For instance, did you know electrical storms are common in the afternoon on Elbrus? As such it’s important to leave early, summit early and be back to lower ground before storms roll in. White outs are also common and getting off route could see you in dangerous crevasse fields. You need to be able to trust your guides to be able to expertly navigate any conditions safely.
Leadership
Look for Guides who are seasoned experts with a strategy that is patient, conservative and well planned to give you the best opportunity for success. They should be apt at managing the team, be able to lean on extensive experience and “thread the needle” when it comes to picking the best summit window and help you to navigate traveling in Russia safely and enjoyably.
Our mountaineering guide staff are second to none, but our teams ALSO always include phenomenal local guides who have spent considerable time in the Elbrus region, speak Russian and can share their culture with you, but are also familiar with the higher expectation around safety and customer service that CTSS demands, giving you the best of both worlds.
Skills Clinic & Training
Elbrus is a fantastic opportunity to learn (or concrete) the key mountaineering skills you will use throughout your entire climbing career.
It is important that your operator dedicates time in your itinerary to a ‘snow school’ or climbing clinic.
Feel free to ask what skills they cover off, how they teach them and and how much time they dedicate to that training. Some of the most important skills are often overlooked, like the rest step, pressure breathing and pacing amongst the more hands on skills like self arrest, efficient cramponing, fixed line climbing etc.
CTSS dedicates an entire day in the schedule for training on the mountain which also forms part of our acclimatisation so there is plenty of time to ensure everyone is confident in their new skill set. Your guide will also help you implement and continue to coach you in these skills throughout your climb.
Marginal Gains - The small things add up!
Have you heard of the “Marginal Gains” philosophy?
The idea is that by capitalising on every little hidden advantage, 1% here, 1% there, small gains quickly compound into a huge overall improvement.
CTSS prides itself on this kind of innovation across all of our expeditions including Elbrus. We optimize both the big details like guide staff, schedules etc, all the way through to the tiny comfort details.
For instance we employ our own cook to come up to the mountain hut with us to serve us fresh, seasonal, local food which is hearty and delicious vs. eating dehydrated or basic camp meals because we know well fed climbers are happy, healthy climbers with more energy on summit day. It’s also why we invest in the nicest accommodation in what is a pretty rustic mountain town and the nicest mountain huts. People may dismiss these little luxuries as ‘soft’ but in fact we invest in them because they are highly strategic.
More Than Just The Climb
Russia offers an incredible travel opportunity beyond just your climb. Choose an operator who gives you the opportunity to mix your climbing goals with culture and a thorough exploration of this incredible destination. After all, you’ve gone to all the trouble of getting a Russian tourist visa!
The combination is a large part of what makes our Elbrus expedition a crowd favourite year in, year out.
We spend ample time sightseeing both the highlights of St. Petersburg & Moscow vs. transiting to the mountain through one of the main cities with a box ticking token tour.
By top and tailing the trip with the best of Russia you get a lovely icebreaker at the beginning (allowing you to get to know your team mates and shake off the jetlag) and a wonderful way to celebrate and recover from your climb as you complete your trip before you head home. All of our climbers report equal enjoyment from both the culture and the climbing – it’s what makes this adventure so special.
Values & Philosophy
Does an operator have strong values?
This is sometimes a little harder to identify as it’s more a feeling than a sales pitch, but you should get a feel for a company through their little interactions, their care factor, their attention to detail, their corporate social responsibility, their response to you.
Mountaineering can be high risk and stressful so pick an operator who has strong core values and a team mentality that aligns with yours so that when things get challenging you can rely on open lines of communication, knowing they will do what they can to support you.
It is this team cohesiveness that flows through to each individual climber and helps them stand on top.
