The two white summits
Above dark rock.
Dmitry A. Mottl — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dmitry A. Mottl — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Riadchikova — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ekaterina Kuzmina — CC BY-SA 2.0 · oliwok — CC BY 4.0
Mount Elbrus is the highest mountain in Russia and Europe, a dormant volcano rising 5,642 metres above sea level and the highest volcano in Eurasia. It lies in the north-west Caucasus, 100 km from the Black Sea, with two summits, the western at 5,642 metres and the eastern at 5,621 metres. It draws climbers, but many people reach great heights without climbing, by cable car. The earliest recorded ascent of the eastern summit was on 10 July 1829, by a Circassian man named Khillar Khashirov, and a British party reached the western summit in 1874. Circassians call it the mountain of happiness, and Karachays and Balkars call it the eternal mountain in their Turkic languages. On very clear days the Caspian is said to be visible from it, 370 km away. From the Cheget side you see two broad white summits above dark volcanic rock. Cable cars climb from the Baksan valley in stages to Mir station and then Garabashi at about 3,800 metres, where snow lies all year. Above, the sharp peaks of the Caucasus run to the horizon, and on clear nights the Milky Way shows. It is about 95 km from Nalchik in a straight line. The air is thin up high, so go up slowly and bring warm clothes and sunglasses, even in summer. Do not try the summit without a licensed guide and time to adjust, as the weather changes fast. Cable cars may stop in strong wind. The UK Foreign Office advises against all travel to Russia, and non-Russian bank cards may not work, so read the current advice before you plan.
Above dark rock.
Up to year-round snow.
Out to the horizon.
Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia
Yes, cable cars reach a great height and need no experience.
June to September for going up and winter for skiing, so check conditions.