Climbing Elbrus from the north
A few days have passed since my return from the northern slope of Elbrus. There were tents, snow, mountains behind, and family, work, difficulties and difficulties ahead. But I want to turn back again and summarize my little trip.
I will say right away that the mountain "did not let" me, nor my climbing comrades, nor the other climbers whom I managed to meet. The weather we found surprised even the "old-timers" of Elbrus. To say that I was upset, not to say anything: half a year of preparation, time spent, strength ... At the first moment when I turned back it seemed to me that all this was spent in empty space - the goal was not achieved!
Now I do not think so, the mountains are not only rocks, ice and summit, but first of all people! People with whom you shared a plate of porridge in the morning, people who helped to realize your dream, people with whom you ran for five minutes and maybe never meet again. I will remember for a long time how we played volleyball on the glade, how we baited bats in the assault camp in anticipation of the weather, how we decided to try to go above the Lenz rocks, when the majority turned back ... Of all this, there was a colorful mosaic of my little trip. I understand that I want to return to the mountains not for the summit and its conquest, but for the moments accompanying the ascent to the summit, for the sake of people, to communicate with them. Thanks to everyone who has been with me all these days!
Separately, I would like to say thanks to two people - Dima Klimenko and Ilya Chuikov, guides of the ELBRUS.GUIDE company. Guys, I'm sure that without you I wouldn't have experienced a little bit of those emotions and impressions that I received during these memorable 11 days. You are cool!