“It is not a plain”: Elbrus aspiring climber
Photographer Julia Lilishentseva has set a goal for 10 years from scratch to prepare for climbing Everest. Familiarity with the mountains and decided to start from Elbrus: “they Say it’s the easiest”.
They say that climbing Elbrus in the summer — a breeze. Especially in late July or early August. Especially on the South side. Especially with a good acclimatization, instructors, and equipment.
And when a year ago I set an ambitious goal for 10 years with absolutely zero level to prepare for climbing Everest, it seemed to me quite logical to start with the mountains from Elbrus.
Indeed, it’s 5642 meters. I, therefore, on the advice of friends chose the tourist club instructors whom I could trust, and gradually began to collect equipment.
I didn’t think it climb something difficult and demanding physical training, but still the whole year was run, I had three training sessions a week.
“I climb in anyway I can, but thanks to training I’m not that up into race to the top”, I thought.
Needless to say that my assumptions were wrong.
Even five days of acclimatization in the Elbrus region has become a serious challenge for me, despite all the training and half marathon, which I ran in the spring.
Acclimatization took place in cut off from the world, the gorge Adyr-su at the foot of the mountain Ullu-Tau. In Soviet times it was a popular place with climbers, mountain hikers and even skiers.
When on the third day, we went to Golovchinski to sleep (3200 meters), the instructors showed us the skeleton of the lift used by skiers.
“Why is it not restored? Here is a good slopes” — asked someone from the group. “Because not to anyone,” shrugged the instructor Edik. Here are few who now goes, he explained.
Indeed, the flow of tourists has fallen dramatically after collapse of the USSR and, in spite of the widespread fascination with healthy lifestyle, and tourism hasn’t recovered to this day.