Elbrus Russia 2005
Photos from the highest mountain in Europe, Elbrus (18,510 feet, Russia), where my Russian guide, Vova, and I climbed to the summit in 2005. I also spent a few days in Moscow before the clilmb and a week in St. Petersburg after the climb. I was astounded to read that 48 people died on Elbrus in 2004 alone. The weather can change at the drop of a dime and the mountain attracts many novice climbers hoping to top the highest mountain in Europe. The death rate has gone from an average of 10 to 20 per year to 5 to 10. The day we climbed, we had bright blue skies but conditions changed drastically and some of the climbers that day got caught in horrendous weather, resulting in epic descents.Mountains Menu
