Disease mountains - Mount Elbrus

I wonder what makes a person break away from their homes and rush, headlong, into the jungle adventure? I'm not the first time to wind in the Kabardino-Balkaria, but still, getting in the Elbrus region, experiencing some kind of awe. Home seems to me that I have missed something last time, and these unclimbed places beckon me like ... like ... I do not know what drugs, but it seems that the expression "like a drug," fits best. Fantastic nature Elbrus has a narcotic effect. Fascinating. Hypnotic. Pick up all sorts of words and metaphors, but one who was there at least once, will always remember the colossus of rocks overhanging the road, huge plains of snow-covered fields, fence gloomy forest and adrenaline, mad adrenaline, which taps into the brain, causing rise higher and above. Although I am not a climber. Yes, my track record in journalism is a list of the rise in chetyrehtysyachnik, but I can not say that he brought me pleasure. The feeling of the mountains, majestic communities, before which makes you feel a grain of sand - that's probably what attracts me. In the mountains, very cool to think about. Think about the essence of being, of perishability of life, the transience of time. But enough of the lyrics, we turn to prose. Prielbrussky Reserve - the central part of the Greater Caucasus within the territory of our country. Elbrus is the highest peak of Russia and Europe, this two-headed extinct volcano, the western apex of which has a height of 5642 m, and the east - 5,621 m. Despite the startling figures, to climb it is not very difficult, it is available and the average climber. But the ease of climbing with eternal snow on the top of the mountain make Shat (Old Russian name of Elbrus, the word "projection, hollow") is very attractive to skiers. On New Year's holidays here flock daredevils from all over Russia to chat with fellow enough, ordinary tourists these days there are not very many. Reach Kabarda from Moscow by car easier than ever: the M-4 to Rostov, then - in Krasnodar, and then - in Pyatigorsk and Nalchik. However, there are travel options through the Stavropol and the federal highway "Kavkaz" go it is not necessary, it is possible to experiment with the route. From Moscow, a few highways lead to the federal highway M-4. But the one who do not know the city will be a long stray before the pop to the top of this highway. This year, M-4 were pleased with refurbished site in Lipetsk region. A couple of years ago there was a restriction of up to six lanes and to overcome the 10 km had to spend over an hour push in a stopper. But now, on the outskirts of Voronezh region and at the entrance to the Rostov solid pits and potholes, and only two lanes. At those sites are constantly working, which end in sight. From year to year and from time to time, I saw a picture of the drivers cursing the local traffic police inspectors, who have adopted the experience of colleagues Novgorod, where the sign "No passing" put anywhere and after a couple of kilometers away lies the ambush, which happily " takes, and then let go of 500-1000 rubles. If you have a Moscow number, multiply the figure by two. This time on the road and in the mountains was tested Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRDi, Korean "Injun", which is stable demand among our customers for more than six years. Appeared to modification only with front-wheel drive, changed the engine power, trim, but the demand is constantly remained excellent. And finally, we waited - he came with a diesel engine. About the same motor on the Santa Fe I've written before, but it has the features of Tucson. This engine is slightly smaller capacity - 2 liters, the same CRDi, just gives it 112 hp power and 245 Nm of torque at 2000 rpm. Compared with the 2,2 l engine motor Tucson has lost almost 40 "horses" and around 100 Nm of torque! Of course, a little strange to see in a modern 2-liter turbodiesel engine is so small parameters of power, but fully admit that the matter is in the system settings Direct Injection Common Rail, Euro 4 requirements, and adaptation to Russian fuel. However, to deliver us to Elbrus these "horses" under the hood of Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRDi was enough. On the road the car confidently holds 160 km / h, consumption does not exceed 11 liters. Federal Highway M-4 in the New Year holidays met creepy chills. The temperature reached -23 ° C in some areas, one gas station near Voronezh I refused to fuel because diesel cold! Every time klatsaya starter, I listened with fear - be got right? But the fears proved groundless - the engine can easily digested offered him the fuel to very very poor quality of which he spoke only distracting rumble and a decrease in traction, but surely come. Average speed on the highway - 120 km / h. The plot of Tikhoretsk to Nevinnomyssk on highway M-29 was covered with solid ice crust, the gap in the 100 km I counted 8 cars in the ditch. A feeling that all together forgotten pereobutsya and dived into the sidelines to replace the rubber. On pure asphalt, I almost broke up the machine to "top speed - 160 km / h. For that very nearly paid the price of rights - on the approaches to KMV many ambushes GAI. Very much, and they are armed with cameras and advanced radars. Be careful! For Pyatigorsk highway M-29 runs into the checkpoint - welcome to the Kabardino-Balkaria! Even a little bit, and Baksan turn on the road A-158 - a direct route to Mount Elbrus. New Year's holidays on Elbrus - Informal meeting of international skiers and snowboarders. You can hear and German, and French, and Italian speech. And this despite the fact that the conditions of leisure and entertainment here is pretty far away from Europe. The narrow road to a clearing Azau, which begins skating, dotted with old boarding houses and sanatoria, preserved since Soviet times. All the new hotels - private, cost of living in which to put it mildly, surprising. On the way to Terskol village at the foot of the King of the mountain spirits (Gin-Sultan - the Turkic name of the mountain), there are several localities - Neytriyno, Elbrus and Tegenekli. For those who are in a car and do not want to give away a lot of money for questionable service, it will be enough to rent an apartment in one of these villages. In particular, we are in the company of three people lived in the 22,5 km from the mountains in Neytriyno and were paid 700 rubles a head, and prepared to purchase the products themselves. But an agile local residents for a small fee can offer their services on the farm. Incidentally, one of the most delicious local dishes - hychiny with all kinds of stuffing. This is a cake made of dough, cooked according to national recipes, served in every cafe. Elbrus many cafes, the price of food is quite moderate even at an altitude of 3100 m. But the price of accommodation in the New Year holidays, something happened. If last year skiing cost us 25 thousand rubles for two people (together with the cost of the road), and we are currently almost nothing had been denied, but this year with the full calculation of all costs became clear that it would be cheaper to have a rest in the Austrian Alps. Of course, on the last New Year's price rose in the Elbrus region, but to so ... The cost is very modest rooms, which cost 1100 rubles. per bed has risen to 4000, while the average for 3000 rubles. suddenly rose to 7000. Another example, the rise of the "cable car" had cost 70 rubles. on the road commuting and 100 - on a new gondola, and now cheap pendular "break", and worked only brand new shiny "gondolka. For the price of 1000 rubles. for daily ski pass (card blank). Our company was not ready to give that kind of money for two or three of descent from the mountain, so we used a ruse: 100 rub. at the hands of the examiner, and drove off. On the "Old horizon, which is located at 2900 m, cable car lifts in 12 minutes. Another 12 minutes to climb to the station "Mir", which is located at an altitude of 3400 m. But further, to a height of 3800 meters to the station "Gara-Bashi" you, in theory, should raise the cableway. But the last time staying on Elbrus, I've never seen it to work. Can not lucky with the weather? Instead to "Gara-Bashi" or "Shelter" (4100 m, station climbers, from there begins the ascent to the summit) are invited to travel by snowmobile - special multifunction machines at tracks. Modest price - 500 rubles. But trust me on word - if you're an amateur skier, skiing with "Peace" and even with "old outlook" you enough for your head. With all the twists and branches can shoot the breeze about 6 km along the steep slopes. To ride with "Peace" is more convenient because there are fewer people, wider and more gentle slopes, but also more risk of "lost" - snow fields are very deceptive for visual perception, there is a chance to drop into the hollow, where will climb peshochkom. Plus a risk of avalanches - only during our stay there under the snow killed three people, one of them was a 16-year-old snowboarder from Moscow. And she and another person were killed at the prime ski slopes of Mount Elbrus, where thousands of people descend on a daily basis. However, apart from the ski test, and we had to motor. In these days of snow in the Caucasus was a lot, a car swerved to the roof within an hour of standing in place and the temperature changes from -4 to -13 ° C was converted into an impenetrable crust of snow and ice. Add to this that the rumble strips bordering the cliffs on the road, not at all that the mountain road is very changeable in their own properties - where there is literally an hour ago it was dry and smooth, get out suddenly fallen rocks and icy streams, and you'll understand how dangerous is rise, even on a paved serpentine. With great interest I have in the first day rising to a clearing Azau - Hyundai Tucson climbed to 2100 m or not? Climbed. Moreover, the ease with which he did, was struck. On the groomed snow track could go only to the front wheel, so as not to load the car, but then when you start to mess of snow and ice include 4WD and you can safely climb to the right place, looking like a stalled near many of the more renowned names. But with all this is not recommended on the ice to get involved in streamer velocity - on the ice will not stop no, no matter how good rubber! In the end, I managed to climb to the Hyundai Tucson 2.0 CRDi to a height of 2300 meters. Diesel pulled smoothly and did not experience oxygen starvation, only consume slightly more fuel. Consumption increased from the usual 10 liters to 12-12,5. Last year's record for BMW X3, which climbed to 2750 meters, was not broken, but it is rather due to weather conditions - constant avalanches and snow drifts did not have to ride on the little known mountain roads. Summarizing the results, we can say that the cost of fuel on this trip for a week for three people was 9 thousand rubles, accommodation - 15 thousand, eating an average of 500 rubles. a dense and delicious dinner, rent skis and snowboards - from 400 rubles. But the impression of fairyland of the mountains, beautiful nature, adrenaline, sea overwhelms us feeling is impossible to estimate anything! What to look for: Be sure to take a ride on all available sectors of the cable car stop by Glade Narzan, a ride to the reserve Adyk-Su in the Upper Baksan, look at the ice waterfall near the glade and visit Azau chegetsky bazaar.