Aug 02
Hiking: Baskan Valley (ski area)
Trip pics
(click for larger image)
Day 5
Day five was the first of several acclimatization days. From our hotel we took a quick shuttle downhill to one of a number of ski-base areas in the valley and took a quick chairlift ride to 9,500’. From here our hike took us further upwards, to the upper reaches of the ski area and beyond, quite near the Georgian border…near enough that there were warning signs along the trail to that effect, and that anyone crossing the border had better have their paperwork in order (even though we were NOT crossing the border, we all had our passports with us, just in case). From here we finally were able to get the first glimpse of our goal – Mt Elbrus. The twin-coned volcano rose across the valley to the south, it's twin summits peeking out of the cloud bank roaming over the valley. Our hike down was perfectly timed to miss the afternoon thunderstorms that rolled in and out quickly, just like we see here in Colorado.

Prepping
Gearing up and stretching out.

Mellow hikin'
A nice mellow trek @10,000'

We're where?
Stern signage warns us that we're approaching the Georgian border

High point
From our days' high point, our hotel is a pinprick some 2000 feet below.