Trip Reports
Jacob called in today to report that the team remains at the Barrels Hut, safe and sound and doing well, while the weather kicks up outside. It snowed over 12″ last night and the winds have been significant, so the team is staying put. Based on the weather forecast for the next few days, Jacob…
We just got a call from our team in Russia, and everyone is doing great. They have been busy doing acclimatization hikes on the flanks of Elbrus and are now poised for a summit bid. We’ve had some technical glitch occur with our audio posting, and have our IT guys looking into it. We apologize…
Jacob called in again, to let everyone know that the team is doing great and having a good time as they explore their surroundings and prepare for their attempt of the highest peak in Europe. Today, they took a series of gondolas and ski lifts before hiking a short ways to an area known as…
Lead guide Jacob Schmitz called in a report after the team took an acclimatization hike in preparation for their ascent of Elbrus, in southeastern Russia. The team will hike to progressively higher altitudes in order to better prepare their bodies for heading high on the mountain. Below is a picture from today’s hike, with the…
A team of climbers met today in Moscow, to finish their preparations for Mountain Trip’s 2013 Elbrus Expedition. Fortunately, everyone made it with their bags, despite some flight delays. Flying halfway around the world is tiresome, and they will spend a day in Moscow, recuperating from their travels and seeing some of the sights that…
The team on our June 23 West Buttress expedition made quick time descending from the 17,200′ high camp and they arrived at the 7,200′ base camp this morning. It was cold at all elevations last night, making for very solid conditions for traveling. They collected supplies that had been cached at 14,200′, 11,200′ and 7,800′…
The June 23 Team spent yesterday watching wind load snow onto the steep, rising traverse above high camp known as the Autobahn. They had hoped for a calm day, with sunny skies, so that the snow that had fallen on the Autobahn would have an opportunity to settle and stabilize. At such cold latitudes, it…
Adam Smith called in from high camp, following a long night of maintaining their tents under the relentless pressure of Mother Nature. It “snowed and blowed” last night and the team awoke at regular intervals to dig their tents out from the accumulating flakes. The sun came out in the morning, however, and they enjoyed…
Most of the team moved to high camp today, while some are planning to remain at the 14,200 ft camp with Mt Trip guide Blaine. They did great on the move, and the weather cooperated for most of the day until the afternoon when winds picked up, but they are all settled into high camp…
Denali is a fickle gal and she certainly threw a few curve balls our way. Record high temperatures in Talkeetna made for dangerous rockfall conditions around Windy Corner and on the fixed lines, causing us to travel at night even on the upper mountain. We could also smell and see the smoke from wild fires…