What sights are there on Elbrus on the way to the top?

In order to truly appreciate the mountain route, it is not enough just to climb the mountain. To better understand the mountains, you need to get acquainted with the culture and life of the people living in this region, to get closer to their past and present. Understand how these people relate to the mountains, how they look at the mountain peaks. This invaluable experience cannot be separated from the experience of climbing the snow summits, and expanding our horizons, we begin to look differently at the rugged sky line, respect and love mountains not only for the beauty of their outlines, but also for the strength that they give to us, for the harsh and unyielding character that mountains bring up in our souls.

Mount Elbrus is located on the territory of the Kabardino-Balkaria, Karachay-Cherkess Republics, as well as partially in the territory of the Stavropol region of Russian Federation. Depending on the route on which you plan to climb this mountain, you can also plan your visits to the attractions that will allow you to get acquainted with the culture and customs of the peoples living at the foot of Elbrus. Let's start with the most popular route to Elbrus from the south - how can you diversify your climbing program from this side?

1. National Museum of the Kabardino-Balkaria Republic. The main museum of the republic, located in the center of Nalchik. Gives a complete picture of the culture and customs of the peoples living in this area - Kabardins and Balkars. Numerous expositions are devoted to the contemporary national art, the past and present of this small part of the Russian Federation. Address of the Museum: Nalchik, Gorky street, 62;


2. The V.S.Vysotsky’s Climbing and Hunting Museum in Tegenekli is practically the only museum in the region devoted to the development of mountaineering in the Elbrus region, as well as the personality of one of the legendary cultural figures of the Soviet era - Vladimir Vysotsky. A whole generation of climbers and mountain lovers grew up on the songs of this author. And the amazingly played by this actor characters of the soviet films about mountains and climbers, of which the most famous is “Vertical” of 1967 (this film was shot in the Elbrus region) - still have not lost their brightness and relevance. The museum location is: Kabardino-Balkarian Republic, Elbrus district, Tegenekli village, Balkarskaya street, 3a;


3. Museum of the Defense of Elbrus. At an altitude of 3,500 meters, not far from the Mir station of the Elbrus pendulum cableway, in a separate building there is a museum dedicated to the dramatic pages of the history of the Elbrus region - the events of 1942-1943, when the fierce battles of the Soviet Army and German invaders were conducted in this area. The south side of Elbrus was at the center of hostilities, so far traces of this relatively recent war can be seen on the slopes of Elbrus. The thematic exposition of the museum tells us in the detail about this historical period;


4. Unfortunately, the main attraction of the Elbrus region, the highest mountain climbing hotel of the former USSR, Priyut 11, built in 1938 at an altitude of 4050 m, has not been preserved to date. The legendary building, which survived the Second World War and hosted the planned tourist groups for more than 50 years burned out due to negligence and violation of elementary fire safety rules.

In addition to the cultural and historical sights, visitors of the Elbrus region also can enjoy the unique natural sites that this mountainous region is rich of. The Chegem waterfalls are especially popular - a group of three waterfalls up to 30 m high beautifully located in a narrow gorge. Blue Lakes are several lakes of karst origin. According to the local legends, these lakes literally have no bottom! According to recent studies, the estimated depth of the lower Blue Lake is more than 300 meters, with a circumference of about 180 - this is, in fact, a vertical shaft that goes into the abyss, filled with transparent water of a bluish tint.

If you climb Mount Elbrus from the north or west, you can add to your climbing program visiting museums in Pyatigorsk. Among the many cultural attractions of this city, you can opt for the following sites:

1. Pyatigorsk Regional Museum. A very diverse exhibition dedicated to the culture, natural and historical attractions of Stavropol and Kabardino-Balkaria. Museum address: Pyatigorsk, st. Bernardazzi, d. 2;


2. Museum-reserve of M.Y.Lermontov. The museum is dedicated to the personality of the famous Russian poet M.Y. Lermontov, whose life and work were inextricably linked with the Caucasus. The museum gives a complete picture of the life and work of the poet, as well as of the lifestyle of the southern Russian province in the 19th century. Museum address: Pyatigorsk, st. Lermontova, 4;


3. Pyatigorsk Museum of Stone Antiquities. This museum was opened in 1850 and is dedicated to a variety of historical eras, which left their mark in the North Caucasus. Museum address: Pyatigorsk, st. Kirova, 17.

Among the natural attractions of the northern side of Elbrus, you can distinguish the hot springs of Djaly-su, where one can relax in warm thermal baths, unique stone sculptures - “stone mushrooms” - volcanic remains formed as a result of erosion - compressed columns of volcanic ash of uneven density. For many millennia, wind and weather created on the slope of Elbrus a real “Stonehenge” from stone statues with flat “hats”. Also, many visitors of the Elbrus region are attracted by the legends of the mysterious “German airfield” - a large, perfectly flat meadow located at the foot of the northern slope of Mount Elbrus. This name came from the times of the Second World War, when German air fighters supposedly landed on this field. However, the local historians do not have accurate information about the use of this place for military or any other purposes.

For all the climbing programs of the MCS AlexClimb Mountaineering School, which we organize in the numerous areas of the Caucasus and other mountain systems, an essential element is getting familiar with the cultural and historical features of these areas. This “highlight” allows participants to get a complete picture of the places they have visited, broaden their horizons not only through the “vertical meters” and extreme sports, but also become spiritually richer by touching cultural values created under the direct influence and inspired by the presence of the mountains.

Text — Alexey Trubachev, founder of the MCS AlexClimb mountaineering and climbing school.

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