The height of the mountain bashi. The highest ski lift in Europe was opened on Elbrus. Video: overview of the routes on Elbrus

19.01.202427.05.2017

The Elbrus Azau ski complex began its work in the mid-20th century. The first stage of the Elbrus cable car from the Azau station to the Krugozor station began operating in 1969, serving tourists from all over the world. Since then, the Elbrus Azau ski complex has been a special place for lovers of the mountain slopes.

The two peaks of the extinct volcano (western and eastern) are covered with snow and ice almost all year round, which allows skiing on some individual sections of the Elbrus slope all year round. The double-peaked giant Elbrus captivates its guests with wide slopes that are suitable for both skiers and snowboarders.

Mount Elbrus is the highest peak not only in Russia, but also in Europe. The western peak has a height of 5,642 m, the eastern one – 5621 m. The maximum lift height on cable cars is 3780 m (Gara-Bashi). And skiers confidently declare: “Elbrus is the largest ski mountain in the world.”

The Elbrus Azau ski complex originates in the Azau clearing, located at the foot of the majestic Elbrus. There are two cable car stations in the Azau clearing:

"old" pendulum
new gondola ride

Both cable cars run parallel to each other. There are 2 stages of both cable cars, the 3rd stage is under construction. There is also a single-chair cable car on the 3rd stage, but it does not always work. From the 2nd stage (Mir station) those wishing to go up on snowcats, the ascent time to “Priyut-11” is 20 minutes.

Cable cars Elbrus - Azau

Queues	Travel time (min)	Throughput, people. / hour	Height difference (m)	Track length (m)
Yoke in the Azau clearing 2300m-2500m	5 minutes		200	500
1st stage Azau (2350m) - Stary Krugozor (3000m)	12 min	100 people / hour	650	1740
1st stage Azau (2350m) - Stary Krugozor (3000m)	5 minutes	480 people/hour (design - 2400)	580	1740
2nd stage OldKrugozor (3000m) - World (3500m)	12 min	100 people / hour	500	1800
2nd stage OldKrugozor (3000m) - World (3500m)	5 min 12 sec	480 people/hour (design - 2400)	514	1800
3rd stage Mir (3500m) - Gara-Bashi (3780m)	12 min	130 people /hour, on repair	250	1500
3rd stage Mir (3500m) - Gara-Bashi (3780m)	5 minutes	under construction	374	1500

Prices for Elbrus-Azau ski lifts

Elbrus ski slopes

Skiing on the slopes of the Elbrus Azau ski complex is much more comfortable than on Cheget. The ski area on the slopes of Elbrus is suitable for both beginners and experienced skiers.

Officially, the Elbrus Azau ski resort has 7 slopes with a total length of about 11 km. In reality, the Elbrus slope is one continuous track where skiers and boarders of all skill levels can ride. The length of the route from the “Bochki” shelter (Gara-Bashi station) to the Azau clearing is 6 km, from “Shelter-11” - 8-10 km, depending on the chosen descent option.

In general, the slopes of Elbrus are wide and gentle “blue” routes, with small elevation changes and short “red” sections. And although there are few nets and limiters, you should not go beyond the marked routes.

Scheme of slopes and lifts "Elbrus - Azau"

On most of the slopes of the Elbrus Azau complex, the skiing season lasts approximately from October to May.

At an altitude of more than 3780 m (from Gara-Bashi and above), skiing is possible all year round. The ascent to Mount Elbrus in this area is carried out on foot or by snowcat. There are also alpine shelters for guests of the Elbrus Azau ski complex. As a rule, tourists stay in these mini-hotels with a limited range of services before climbing the peaks of the great Elbrus.

Mini-buildings of shelters protect from snow and wind, they have electricity, gas and water. The small rooms of mountain shelters are always equipped with sleeping places (blankets and pillows are provided) and have a dining area. Here tired climbers can take shelter from bad weather, gain strength, undergo acclimatization, and spend the night. Frequent guests in alpine shelters are skiers and snowboarders who want to relax after descending from the top of Elbrus.

Difficulty of descent from point “Priyut-11” 4050m to “Azau glade” 2350m

Green is an easy section, blue is a more difficult section, red is a difficult section of the route, black is very difficult.

The Elbrus-Azau ski complex can be recommended to beginner riders who want to hone their skills, as well as to those who prefer quiet skiing for pleasure.

For beginners, the Azau clearing is equipped with a VL-400 “mop” yoke, serving a gentle “green” slope.

Characteristics of the Elbrus-Azau routes

The Elbrus slope conditionally consists of five sections:

“Shelter-11” (4100 m) -> station “Gara-Bashi” (3780 m)

Cable cars: lifting only on snowcats.
Route: mostly red and black, suitable for experienced riders.

Gara-Bashi station (Bochki shelter) (3780 m) -> Mir station (3500 m)

Cable cars: single-chair CD, or snowcat lift.
Route: mostly blue, up to “Barrels” it is flat and wide, quite steep, and after the “Barrels” shelter, keep to the left edge, because on the right the track is narrower and steeper.

Station "Mir" (3500 m) -> station "Stary Krugozor" (3000 m)

Cable cars: pendulum "Elbrus-2" and gondola "PUMA-2".
Route: at the beginning the track is black, quite steep, then the track gradually widens and turns into a wide blue one.

Station "Old Krugozor" (3000 m) -> Azau glade (2350 m)

Cable cars: pendulum "Elbrus-1" and gondola "PUMA-1".
Route: at the beginning the track is red, quite narrow and steep, then the track gradually widens and turns into a flat blue one.

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Slopes and stations of Elbrus

The Elbrus Azau ski complex opened in the mid-20th century. Since then, tourists from different countries have continuously flocked to the resort to ski on the resort’s slopes. The trails here vary in difficulty, so everyone will find a trail to their liking. There is a mesh fence installed on the slopes, which creates a certain level of safety for those skiing.

Slopes of Elbrus

The slopes of Elbrus can be divided into 5 sections. Let's go down from the highest point

At an altitude of 4100 m, “Shelter 11” is located and here there is a descent to the Gara-Bashi station “Shelter Bochka”, altitude 3780 m. You can climb here only by snowcats or on foot: there are no cable cars here. You can ride all year round.
From Gara-Bashi station (Barrel Shelter) to Mir station. Here the height drops from 3780 m to 3500 m. A single-chair cable car is in operation, and another, gondola, is under construction. The difficulty of the route is marked in blue; it has varied terrain - up to the shelter it is flat and wide, and then narrow and steep.
From the Mir station, from an altitude of 3500 meters, we descend to 3000 meters, where the Stary Krugozor station is located. There are two cable cars on this section: the Elbrus-2 pendulum and the Puma-2 gondola. The route at the beginning of the descent is very steep and narrow and belongs to the black category of difficulty, and then turns into a wide blue one.
From the Stary Krugozor station, from a height of 3000 meters, we descend to the Azau clearing at a height of 2350 meters. There are also two cable cars running here, the same types as on the previous section: Elbrus-1 and Puma-1. The slope begins with a difficult narrow and steep red route and ends with a blue route - flat and wide.
Glade Azau. The elevation difference here is 200 (2500-2300) meters, this is a kind of “paddling pool” for beginner skiers. A “Mop” type rope lift operates here.

Although the slopes are conventionally divided into sections depending on the level of climb and difficulty, in reality, the slopes of Azau are one continuous route, intended for skiing by skiers and snowboarders of different levels of training. Extreme lovers can try the untouched virgin soil of Elbrus, of course, accompanied by an experienced instructor. You will have to get to the virgin lands by helicopter or snowcat.

Elbrus shelters

Shelters (mini-hotels) are located on high points of the Elbrus-Azau complex. Designed for tourists to relax before or after climbing Elbrus. Skiers can also rest here after a long descent from the top.

The old shelters did not have a high level of comfort, but here you could find the most necessary things: heat, electricity, water, gas, a place to sleep. More modern shelters, such as Leap, built by the Italians, are much more comfortable.

Prices for Elbrus ski lifts - Azau

The price of a one-day adult ski pass for the Elbrus resort in the 2017/2018 season is 1550-1900 rubles, depending on the high or low season. When purchasing a ski pass, there are discounts on lift services. For children under 5 years old, disabled people of group 1 and disabled children under 18 years old, pensioners over 75 years old - free. People aged 65-75 years receive a 10% discount.

How to get to Azau

You can get to Azau in different ways: train, plane, bus, transfer.

By plane to Mineralnye Vody or Nalchik, then by bus or taxi to the village of Terskol.
By train to Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Pyatigorsk, Prokhladny, then by bus or taxi to the village of Terskol.
From Mineralnye Vody, Prokhladny and Nalchik you can take a transfer to Terskol.

The trip to Terskol by transfer or taxi takes on average 2.5-4 hours. Depends on the distance from the starting point of departure.

Ski complex "Cheget"

The second popular complex of the Elbrus region is “Cheget”. The opening of the resort took place in the mid-20th century, when the first cable car in the Soviet Union began operating. The Cheget trails have become the most difficult in the country. After its opening in 1963, the winter sports competitions took place here. The chairlift gave a powerful impetus to the development of skiing.

Since then, the popularity of Cheget has not decreased not only in the country, but also in the world, although its tracks are still considered one of the most difficult tracks in the world. The routes to Azau are much simpler and more comfortable.

However, the lifts here are still the same - old Soviet ones, in other words, slow, inconvenient and unreliable. If you need comfort and smooth slopes, Cheget is not for you. Snow groomers do not touch these slopes; here you are alone with the natural relief of the Elbrus region.

Cheget is a Mecca for experienced riders. Many people dream of experiencing its untouched virgin lands, rugged slopes, slopes from 20 to 45 degrees.

The highest point of the trails is 3050 meters, with a mountain height of 3700 meters. The lower station is located at an altitude of 2100 m. The total length of the tracks is 20 km. The ski season lasts from November to May.

Cheget trails and cable cars

The Cheget trails are beautiful and dangerous. Only experienced skiers can ski here. If you go away from the ski lifts, you can only ride in a group, with a full set of avalanche equipment. Avalanches often occur here, especially on the northern slopes. The southern slopes are more gentle and even. The trails are often closed due to the high risk of avalanches. The mountain rescue service is constantly on duty.

The famous Cheget hillocks deserve special attention, skiing on them develops ski control and a sense of balance. The mounds are located in the second stage, incl. under the cable car.

There are 11 trails on Cheget, they vary in difficulty. Snow groomers pass through them very rarely. Let's explore the resort's trails and start from the top of Cheget:

Section 3070 meters – Station “Cheget-3” (3000 m)

The easiest green trail starts at the top of Cheget, at an altitude of 3000-3070 meters. Its length is only 300 meters. This is a good place for beginners to ride to hone their skills. You can climb to the top using a “Mop” ropeway. From the top the majestic Elbrus opens in all its glory.

Section “Cheget-3” (3000 m) – “Cheget-2” (2750 m).

More complex red and blue routes begin from the Cheget-3 station. The site is served by a single-chair cable car. Next to the lower station of this section is the famous cafe “Ay”, where Yuri Vzibor liked to stay and the filming of the film “Breakfast with a View of Elbrus” took place. The observation deck near the cafe offers a beautiful view of the double-headed peak of Elbrus, the Donguzorun, Nakra and Kogutai mountains.

Section “Cheget-2” (2750m) – Polyana Cheget (2100m)

This route is also quite steep, but is marked blue. In the Cheget clearing, life is in full swing; there are many cafes, restaurants, and shops. The area is served by single-chair and double-chair cable cars. Let us note once again that these are old and worn-out lifts that break down quite often.

The northern slopes of Cheget are more suitable for fans of extreme skiing and freeride. The most famous slope was popularly called “Dollar” for its curves; this is a real test even for an experienced skier. The southern slope is flatter and wider - for lovers of measured driving and snowboarders, but it also has difficult terrain.

Prices for Cheget ski lifts

The cost of a daily subscription is 800 rubles. Excursion lift – 500 rubles per time. There are no multi-day ski passes.

How to get to Cheget

By plane to Mineralnye Vody or Nalchik, then transfer to a regular bus to Terskol.
By train to Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Pyatigorsk or Prokhladny, then transfer to a regular bus or taxi to Terskol.
Order a group taxi from Mineralnye Vody, Prokhladny, Nalchik.

Accommodation

You can explore the slopes of Cheget for more than one day, so the best option would be to rent a room at a local hotel. There are a lot of them in Cheget. You can stay in the hotel of the same name at the foot of the mountain, or you can rent a room in Terskol. But the hotels in the Cheget clearing are more attractive for tourists, because the ski lifts are no more than 5 minutes’ walk away.

Our advice: Before you step onto the Cheget trails for the first time, carefully study the slopes and trail maps; the trails are not marked, but you can determine on the ground which zone you are in. It is better to start riding with an instructor, guide or in a group, because... There is a great danger of getting lost here. It is better not to leave the rolled out places. There is a high risk of injury in Cheget, so follow the safety rules.

If you have ever visited the Elbrus region, have no doubt - you will want to return there again and again. And every time it will be full of impressions and emotions.

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Active recreation in the Elbrus region

The North Caucasus attracts modern extreme sports enthusiasts no less than their much more active predecessors who lived in the 20th century. In those days, mountains were not intended for romantic walks, but served as a kind of “scale” for measuring willpower and endurance.

Elbrus cable cars have made this area much more attractive for lovers of mountain air and selfie lovers. Particularly popular is the Shelter of Eleven, the highest mountain hotel located in the southeastern part of Elbrus, at an altitude of 4130 meters above sea level. The height of the peaks of Elbrus (this mountain is an extinct volcano) is 5621 and 5642 meters.

Today, traveling around the Elbrus region can be made less extreme and more colorful. With the advent of the “route” of multi-tiered cable cars, inaccessible peaks became accessible even to unprepared travelers. It all depends on the intentions and plans of climbers, skiers and vacationers.

On the cable car - to Elbrus!

Elbrus cable cars originate from the Azau clearing, located at an altitude of 2350 meters above sea level. From here, from the Azau clearing, all the walking routes leading to the top begin.

Glade Azau is not a deserted, snow-covered corner of nature, but rather a modern tourist center, equipped in accordance with the latest progressive developments: here, in addition to rental points for the necessary equipment and sports equipment, there are many pharmacies, shops, hotels and cafes.

Even beginners can tame a snowboard or alpine skiing. The main desire! Thanks to the instruction of experienced mentors, a person who has never practiced winter sports before will learn to overcome the descent from the Krugozor station in just one day. This is the name of the first high mountain point, for the ascent to which the first cable car in these places was built. Elbrus (photo below) is not yet visible from here. But if you transfer to a carriage going to the next station - “Mir”, travelers will finally have a view of Elbrus.

Hotel above the clouds

The highest point of the second stage (from Krugozor station to Mir station), launched in 1976, reaches 3470 meters. The traffic pattern on this section is similar to the previous one: next to the old, pendulum cableway, there is a new one - a gondola. After the completion of the construction of the “Great Elbrus Cable Car”, the hotel above the clouds (as the “Shelter of the Eleven” is unofficially called) finally became accessible to tourists of different levels of training, as well as to those who found themselves so high in the mountains for the first time.

The official name of the hotel, “Shelter of the Eleven,” has two legends associated with it. According to one of them, eleven climbers who were caught in a snowstorm once froze here. According to the second legend, the name of the hotel was given by a local resident when he stopped for the night with his charges - students of a rural school.

The second stage of the “cable car” lay over the icy peaks and unmelting snow of Mount Elbrus. Did the high-rise builders who erected the second stage realize that a few decades later the Elbrus cable cars would take people even higher?

The final stop is “Gara-Bashi”

Since December 27 last year, a cable car with a height of 3847 meters has been available to tourists, climbers and just vacationers who come to see Elbrus. The Gara-Bashi station and (so far) this cable car are the highest in Europe. Previously, the cable car with a lift to the Aiguille du Midi, the western peak of Mont Blanc, was considered the highest mountain.

The new cable track, according to experts, compares favorably with the French one, as it is suitable for serving all categories of skiers. The capacity of the Mir - Gara-Bashi cable car is 750 people per hour. More than a billion rubles were allocated for its construction and improvement. In the foreseeable future, the organizers of the ski resort areas of the Elbrus region plan to simultaneously receive up to 12 thousand winter sports fans.

Shelter "Bochki"

Of course, the Elbrus cable cars are not designed to take travelers to the very end point of the journey. Before climbing to the top, tourists acclimatize by staying for several days in one of nine six-seater vans, surprisingly similar to barrels. Having become accustomed to the local climate, travelers will leave the “Bochki” shelter and climb to the top of the “two-headed dragon”.

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How to get to the Elbrus region and Elbrus

By plane

It is convenient to fly to this ski resort from distant places by plane. You need to take tickets to Mineralnye Vody airports (you can set aside half a day to explore this city) or Nalchik.

Check the exact price of air tickets for the dates you need:

By train

If trains are closer to you, then in addition to Nalchik and Mineralnye Vody you can go to Prokhladny or Pyatigorsk.

Trains from many major Russian cities run to the Mineralnye Vody and Pyatigorsk stations.
Travel time from Moscow: 1 day

To the slopes of Elbrus and Cheget by bus/car

From these large cities there is excellent bus service to the Cheget and Elbrus-Azau routes. In addition to relatively cheap regular buses, which will take you there in 2.5-3.5 hours, there are also minibuses and regular taxis, which will be somewhat more expensive, but without reference to the schedule. It's better to bargain with taxi drivers. During peak season, the price is so inflated that you can persuade the driver to pay 2/3 of the originally announced price.

The distance to the slopes from Nalchik is 130 km. A little further from Mineralnye Vody - 180 km.

When driving by car, you need to get to the post of the city of Baksan, and then head towards the villages of Tyrnyauz and Elbrus, behind which the resort area will be located.

Resort area villages

In total, there are 6 villages in the resort area, which stretch along the Baksan Gorge for 16 km, but have a developed infrastructure for tourism 3. From the villages to the ski lifts you can get by taxi.

Ski season

The skiing season runs from October almost until May, and above Garabashi the slopes are in acceptable condition all year round. The most pleasant time is February, March, April. In March the weather is so good that you can see sunbathers on the slopes.

By purchasing a ski pass for the entire duration of your vacation, you save money;
No waiting in line to buy a one-time ski pass.

A small clarification: if you want to use the rope tow, then the general ski pass does not apply to it. You will need to buy a one-time ticket.

There are two main ski areas in the Elbrus region: Elbrus Azau and Cheget. We will tell you more about them.

Elbrus - Azau

You need to start getting acquainted with alpine skiing from the Elbrus slope first.

Manifestations of the disease are not pleasant: fatigue, shortness of breath, headache, rapid heartbeat, flatulence, nausea, leading to vomiting. Therefore, do not deny your body a period of adaptation and get used to the altitude gradually.

Beautiful official video about the 2015/16 season on Elbrus:

Prices for ski passes for cable cars on the Elbrus-Azau slope

For the Elbrus-Azau routes, there is a tariff schedule for cable car services of 8 options. Prices for the 2016-2017 season have not yet been published on the official website, refer to the previous season. The prices for holidays and weekends are given in brackets:

Excursion one-time lift – 500 (600) rub.
Half-day subscription is valid from 12 am - 800 (900) rubles.
Day pass – 1300 (1500) rub.
For two days – 2500 (2900) rubles.
For three days – 3700 (4300) rubles.
For four days – 4900 (5700) rubles.
For five days – 6100 (7100) rubles.
For six days (actually for eight, two days of which you will not use the subscription, enjoying other types of recreation) - 7300 (8500) rubles.
Children under 6, adults over 75, and disabled people of group I are admitted free of charge.

In addition to the actual cost, they will also charge you 100 rubles per plastic card ski pass, and the amount will be returned after the card is returned.

Cable cars

There are as many as 7 of them on the slope of Elbrus, one of which is still under construction. The length of the roads is divided into 3 parts - 2 transfers.

First of all goes from Azau station to Stary Kruzor. You can take the new Roma-1 gondola cable car up in 5 minutes, or use the Elbrus-1 pendulum cable car, which will take you there in 12 minutes. The length of the routes in the first case is 1740, in the second – 1900 meters, passing at an altitude of up to 3000 meters above sea level.

Second stage goes from the Stary Krugozor station to the Mir station, taking you to a height of three and a half thousand meters in 7 minutes on Roma-2 or 12 minutes on Elbrus-2. During this time you will cover a distance of 1800 meters.

Third stage will take you to a height of 3780 meters in 15 minutes on the Elbrus chairlift. The gondola cable car duplicating this kilometer-long ascent is not yet ready for commissioning.

You can climb even higher - to Shelter-11, using a snowcat or snowmobile. The ascent will take about 20 minutes and will cost from 400 rubles.

The drag road goes through the Azau clearing for 5 minutes and rises from 2300 meters to 2500.

Elbrus-Azau routes

On the slopes of Elbrus there are 7 trails, more suitable for beginners and amateurs than the Cheget trails. Although in fact the tracks are not separated from each other in any way and represent a wide common area for skiing.

From “Shelter-11” to “Gara-Bashi” there is a wide, gentle slope, suitable for training beginners when they get used to the highlands.
From “Gara-Bashi” to “Mir” station the elevation difference will be 280 meters. The route is flat and wide, quite steep and has a medium degree of difficulty. The one on the right is narrower and steeper than the one on the left.
From “Mir” to “Old Horizon” the elevation difference is 500 meters. The beginning of this section is only for the most experienced. A little lower, the descent will be manageable for an amateur who is firmly on his skis.
From Krugozor to the Azau clearing the difference is 650 meters. At first narrow and steep, the trail gradually widens to a moderate level of difficulty.

In this video you can clearly see the descent from Mir Station to the Azau clearing, 4.5 km:

The total length of the descent from the Garabashi point to Azau is 6815 meters, with a track width of 60 to 80 meters, which meets international standards for skiing.

Garabashi Gorge, Terskol Gorge, Observatory and Semifinal, as well as several smaller life-threatening tracks, are used by fans of freeriding.

People die due to negligence, avalanches or falling into twenty-meter-deep cracks outside the areas of well-trodden trails.

Cheget

The slopes of Mount Cheget are definitely not for beginners.

Ski pass to Cheget

If you have already purchased a ski pass for the slopes of Elbrus, you will have to buy it separately for Cheget. There are only two options on sale: excursion for 500 rubles and all day for 800.

Cheget cable cars

There are only three cable cars and two queues on Cheget. You can get from the Cheget clearing to the “Ai” cafe on the “Cheget-1” chairlift or a paired chairlift. A climb of 1600 meters in the first case will take you 11 minutes, in the second – 17. During this time you will rise from a height of 2700 to a height of 2750 meters above sea level.

The chairlift “Cheget-2” of the second stage lifts to a height of 3000 meters in 6 minutes. In these minutes, 900 meters of the mountain slope will fly under you.

Cheget trails

There are 15 trails in Cheget, with a total length of 20 km. The height difference from the top to the bottom is 950 meters.

The hilly terrain, steep slopes, and pine forest attract freeriders. Snowboarders prefer the southern slope - it is wider, although it retains the steepness of the slope.

There is nothing for beginners to do here. Except that there is a small piece of an easy track 350 meters long at the very top - above the Chegeta 3 station, which can only be reached by ski lift. Everything else is marked as trails of a high level of difficulty - for professionals and freeride descents. An additional risk is the possibility of avalanches and rocks.

Video of freeriders on Cheget:

Housing

Boarding houses and hotels

The easiest option to rent a hotel is to choose and book it on the official website of the resort: http://prielbrusie-ski.ru/view/accommodation/ or in a specialized housing aggregator in the Elbrus region - nedoma.ru

Or use hotel aggregators (Booking, Ostrovok, Oktogo) - there you can find truthful reviews and take advantage of aggregator bonuses.

Private sector

If you prefer apartment conditions, then it is better to stay in Terskol - this village is closest to the ski lifts. Cost from 500 rubles per person per day. The further you are from the ski slopes, the cheaper the accommodation. Consider options in Baidaevo, Tegenekli, Elbrus, Neutrino. The latter is located at a distance of 16-18 kilometers from Cheget and Azau.

Information about apartments or rooms for rent can be easily found on site in any store or cafe. Do not be surprised. This is one of the features of the resort area. But if you are embarrassed to ask or prefer to analyze as many options as possible, the Internet is at your service. People are increasingly posting their rental advertisements there, for example, here: https://www.airbnb.ru/.

Accompanying services

Rental

The resort has about a dozen shops where you can buy special equipment for sports or mountaineering. But such a purchase is not always justified. Therefore, it is easier and cheaper to contact rental offices. Rentals are carried out in the same stores or at special rental points in the Azau and Cheget valleys. Sometimes this service is provided in hotels for residents.

Rental is considered to be per day. A deposit and/or document is required for equipment or gear.

You can take a set at once: skis + poles + boots or snowboard + boots. Children cost 600 rubles, adults 900 rubles on the first day. In subsequent days or if you pay for several days at once - it’s cheaper, on January holidays it’s more expensive. Also available for rental are goggles, helmets, jackets, overalls, tents, sleds, waterproof trousers and many other things that do not even occur to beginners.

Rental places often provide repair services for damaged equipment.

Sports equipment stores

Terskol: “Alpindustria”, “Tourist equipment”, “Elbrus-navigator”, “Open world”
Polyana Azau: “Vertical”

Pharmacies

At the Azau cable car station
At the boarding house "Cheget" and the hotel "Snow Leopard" on the Cheget glade
In the post office building of the village of Terskol
In the village of Tyrnauz

ATMs

In the village of Terskol - Eurokommerts and Sberbank of Russia at the Elbrussia Hotel, Caucasian Development Bank at the Terskol tourist center
Polyana Cheget – “Sberbank of Russia” in the boarding house “Cheget”

Personal instructor

For those wishing to study with an instructor, please keep in mind that you must sign up in advance. Their work is in great demand. Approximately one hour of individual lessons costs 1000 rubles.

There are instructors teaching children.

You can catch such an important person near the ski lifts or directly during instruction in the clearings.

If you're starting to ski for the first time, don't skimp on advice for a beginner. They can not only bring you pleasure, but also keep you healthy.

Transfer

You can order cars of different classes and different capacities, including minibuses and trucks. They will come to you at the time you specify and take you where you need to go. Meeting at the airport or train station is possible.

You can order a transfer in advance here: http://prielbrusie-ski.ru/order-transfer/

Connection

At the ski resorts of the Caucasus, communications from mobile operators Megafon, MTS and Beeline work best. Don't forget that you will be in a roaming zone. Incoming calls are charged, outgoing calls are at a high price. Check the cost of services with your telecom operator.

Use walkie-talkies to communicate with friends on the slopes.

Wi-Fi and internet cafe

There is a café for Internet access in the boarding house “Cheget” in the clearing of the same name. Another one in Terskol. Wi-Fi is provided by many hotels and guesthouses.

Last week I was in the Elbrus region testing the new Ford Ranger. At the same time, we took a cable car to the Barrels shelter, located at an altitude of 3800 meters above sea level.

Meanwhile, Elbrus itself is considered the highest point in Russia and Europe. It has two peaks (this is an extinct volcano) with a height of 5621 and 5642 meters. To get to the top there are three lines of cable cars; then the ascent is possible either on foot or by snowcat.

2. The cable car starts at Azau station, located at an altitude of 2350 meters above sea level. There was heavy rain at night, resulting in a mudflow. This Niva was captured by the elements, but when we went downstairs it had already been dug up and it left.

3. On the first stage there are two lifts. An old pendulum cable car with two cabins with a capacity of 20 people each. And a new gondola-type cable car with detachable cabins (58 in total) with a capacity of 8 people each. They arrive at the Stary Kruzor station (altitude 3000 meters).

4. The next line of cable cars goes from the Stary Krugozor station (3000 meters) to the Mir station (3500 meters). There is exactly the same traffic pattern with two cable cars: the old one (pendulum type) and the new one (gondola type). The cost of an excursion ride on the gondola cable car is 600 rubles, on the pendulum cable car - 300.

6. If in Mineralnye Vody that day the temperature was +30 °C, then here, at an altitude of more than 3500 meters, it became cold.

7. Tourists go down to the cable car.

8. The peaks of Elbrus are tightly covered with clouds. In the foreground you can see numerous snowcats and snowmobiles, which offer to take you a little higher for 1000 rubles. Further, there is “Shelter 11” (height 4130 meters), where the highest mountain hotel in Russia was built in 1938, which burned down in 1998.

9. Melting glacier.

10. General view of the “Bochki” shelter.

11. Disassembled snowcat.

12. The Barrels shelter consists of 9 six-person residential barrel containers, where tourists undergo acclimatization before climbing to the top of Elbrus. Also, pay attention to how the concrete slabs in front of them moved.

13. Beer shop at an altitude of 3800 meters. That's right, what else to do during the acclimatization period.

14. Because There is no time for acclimatization and climbing Elbrus, and we have to fly to Moscow on the same day - we go down.

15. Finally, a picture of an excellent high-altitude toilet such as a toilet, located at the Mir station (altitude 3500 meters above sea level). And I almost forgot to say - I was extremely surprised by the presence of free Wi-Fi Internet at this altitude. I won’t even write about the amount of garbage, but it’s all clear...

In the Elbrus region, ski areas are concentrated directly on Elbrus and on the slopes of Mount Cheget, located not far from Elbrus and famous for its extreme slopes, some of the most difficult in the world. The distance between ski areas is 4 km. 12 km of cable cars have been built in the Elbrus region, incl. a recently built gondola lift that can accommodate up to 500 people at a time.

Mount Elbrus - cable cars and routes Elbrus-Azau

Mount Elbrus, the highest point in Russia and Europe, is the two peaks of an extinct volcano. Eastern - 5621 meters above sea level, Western - 5642 meters. Skiing on certain sections of the slopes is possible all year round. The highest and most accessible point for skiing is “Shelter 11” - 4200 meters. Shelter 11 can be reached from the Mir station by snowcat. There are sections of the route accessible to beginner skiers. For beginner skiers, there is a 300-meter-long rope rope at the run-out of the slope. The total length of the trails is more than 35 km.

Cable cars of the Elbrus-Azau complex

First stage: Azau - Krugozor

The Elbrus-Azau ski complex originates in the Azau clearing, located at the foot of Elbrus. There are catering facilities, a ski equipment rental station, and coffee and tea vending machines. There are two cable car stations in the Azau clearing:

old pendulum;
new gondola road.

Both cable cars run parallel to each other. Currently, there are 2 stages at each cable car, the 3rd stage is under construction. On the 3rd stage there is also a single-chair cable car, which, however, does not always work. From the 2nd stage (Mir station) above, everyone climbs on snowcats; the ascent time to “Shelter-11” is approximately 20 minutes.

Pendulum cableway "Elbrus 1"(2350-3000 m) departs from the Azau station and reaches the Stary Krugozor station. There are cafes and kebab shops at both stations. Travel time on the old pendulum road is 15 minutes.
New cable car "Elbrus" gondola type was opened in December 2006. It connects the lower return station in the Azau clearing with the upper drive station “Old Krugozor” and is installed parallel to the existing pendulum cableway. This is the latest model of a gondola-type aerial cable car with detachable gondolas. The capacity of one gondola is 8 people. 58 gondolas operate simultaneously. The length of the route is 1740 m, the drop in road is 580 m. The travel time of the new gondola road is 5 minutes, the average speed is 6 m/s. The capacity of the cable car is up to 2,400 people per hour.

Second stage: Krugozor - World

On this line there is an old pendulum cable car "Elbrus-2" and a new cable car "Elbrus" gondola type.

Pendulum cableway "Elbrus - 2" (3000 - 3500 m) starts from the Stary Krugozor station and goes to the Mir station. The length of the road is 1500 m. On the territory of the station there is a cozy cafe “Mir” and the Museum of the military glory of the defenders of Elbrus and the Caucasian passes during the Great Patriotic War.
New gondola-type cable car "Elbrus" (3000 - 5000 m) was opened in April 2009. It is the latest model of aerial cable car with 8-seater gondolas produced by the French company ROMA - one of the world leaders in the field of cable transport systems. The road connects two ski stations: “Stary Krugozor” and “Mir”. The length of the road is 1800 m, the capacity is 2400 people/hour. Travel time in one direction is 5 minutes 13 seconds.

Third stage: Mir - Gara-Bashi

The Elbrus chairlift operates on the 3rd stage.

Chairlift "Elbrus" (3500 - 3850 m) starts from the Mir station and goes to the Gara-Bashi station. The single chair lift is quite old and does not work stably. From here, from an altitude of 3800 m, certified route No. 1 begins to the Azau clearing 2300 m.

Higher up, the Priyut 11 station (4200 m) can be reached by snowcats. All snowcats are private, so their prices fluctuate. Approximately, a distance of 18 km can be covered for 1000 rubles.

Queues	Type of road	Height difference (m)	Throughput, people. / hour	Travel time (min)	Track length (m)
Yoke in the Azau clearing 2300 m-2500 m	Yoke VL-400, “Mops” of the paddling pool in Azau	200	-	5	500
1st stage Azau (2350m)-Stary Krugozor (3000m)	Pendulum cableway "Elbrus-1" (20-seat cabins)	650	100 people/hour	12	1740
1st stage Azau (2350m)-Stary Krugozor (3000m)	Gondola cable car “POMA-1” (8-seater gondolas)	580	2400 people/hour	5	1740
2nd stage Stary Krugozor (3000m) - Mir (3500m)	Pendulum cableway "Elbrus-2" (20-seat cabins)	500	100 people/hour	12	1500
2nd stage Stary Krugozor (3000m) - Mir (3500m)	Gondola cable car “POMA-2” (8-seater gondolas)	514	2400 people/hour	5	1800
3rd stage Mir (3500m)-Gara-Bashi (3780m)	Chairlift "Elbrus", 1-seater	250	130 people/hour, on repair	12	1500
3rd stage Mir (3500m)-Gara-Bashi (3780m)	Gondola cable car	374	under construction	5	1500

Characteristics of the routes of the Elbrus-Azau complex

Red route "Old Horizon"

The route is located between the Mir and Stary Krugozor stations of the Elbrus cable car. There are two options for the descent, one of which merges with the Azau highway, and the other, parallel to the cable car, runs along a wide flat section to the Elephant Foreheads and then along a narrow cornice 4 meters wide to the Stary Kruzor station. The maximum width of the route is 90 m, the height difference is 500 m. The length of the descent is 1900 m. The average slope of the route is 25. Difficult terrain, rocky soil made of volcanic rocks, glacial base of the route.

Red route "Azau"

A gentle descent to the “Olga turn”, then a steep one - along a 50 m long chute with a slope of 35, at the end of the section the route turns left and along the cornice, past the high-mountain hotel, goes in a smooth arc to the left and reaches the straight finishing section under the cable car. Here you need to be careful, as there is a possibility of a collision with skiers starting from the top station of the ropeway VL-350. The length of the route is 2 km, the elevation difference is 650 m. The inclination angle is 50.

Blue track "Gara-Bashi"

The route is located between the Gara-Bashi and Mir stations of the Elbrus cable car and has access to the site from which the Old Horizon route begins. The maximum width of the route is 80 m, and the height difference is 300 m. The length is 1100 m with a maximum slope of 50. The slope relief is complex, the soil is rocky and rocky from volcanic rocks, basalt rocks. It is served by the Elbrus cable car with a length of 1130 m at a speed of 1.75 m/s. Having risen another 20 m from the highest station, you can get to the climbers’ training camp for climbing “Bochka”. Shelter 11 (4200 m) and Pastukhov Rocks (4800 m) can be reached by snowcat. True heroes reach the Col (5300 m) as a result of natural selection.

Training slope "Azau" (green track)

The route is located to the right of the ropeway VL-350 along a gentle chute. The route, 300 m long and with a height difference of 50 m, starts at an altitude of 2400 m above sea level. The average tilt angle is 15. The terrain is average, grassy cover on volcanic rocks, on the right side the route borders with a birch forest. The lift is a BKD VL-350 with a length of 300 m with a height difference of 50 m. A helicopter stands at the foot of Elbrus every day. It is also possible to fly to Dombay, ski there and return back. There is no lighting; a large amount of precipitation in the Elbrus region guarantees deep snow cover throughout the ski season. There is a well-equipped rescue service. The most dangerous places on the route - stones, cliffs, buildings - are fenced with a catching mesh.

Mount Cheget: cable cars and trails

It was on Cheget (2100 - 3050 m) that the country's first cable car was built in 1963. The height of Mount Cheget is 3700 meters. The maximum lifting height is 3050 meters. The difference in skiing heights is 1140 meters. Cheget's slopes are considered one of the most difficult in the world's ski resorts. In Russia, Cheget serves as a standard for the difficulty of trails. On Mount Cheget there are 2 stages of the “Cheget” chairlift, a stage of the “Parnaya” double chairlift and a network of rope towing roads. The total length of the ski lifts is 4300 meters, the total length of the ski slopes is 20 km, and if we take into account the possibility of virgin skiing, the total ski area will be about 100 km. Mount Cheget is located 1 km from the village of Terskol and 4 km from the Elbrus cable car complex.

First stage (2100-2750)

Cable car "Cheget-1" departs from the lower station of Polyana Cheget and continues to the cafe station “Ai” (2750 m). The “Ai” cafe station has an observation deck with a magnificent view of the mountains. Height difference - 650 m.
Chairlift "Parnaya" duplicates the KKD "Cheget-1" and also goes from the lower station of the Cheget glade and reaches the station of the cafe "Ai".

Second stage (2750-3000)

Cable car "Cheget-2" departs from the cafe "Ai" and goes to the Cheget station. On the way, a picture opens up: on the right are the snow-white caps of Elbrus, on the left are the peaks of Donguzorun, Kogutai and Nakra sparkling with eternal snow.

Towing roads

towing road VL-650- (2750 m - 3000 m) with a length of 650 meters, travel time 5 minutes;
towing road VL-300- (3000 m - 3070 m) with a length of 300 meters, travel time 3 minutes.

The highest altitudes in Europe, long slopes for descent of varying degrees of difficulty, a pleasant climate, snowy winters, comfortable temperatures and a lot of sun - these are the factors for which the mountains of the North Caucasus are so loved.

The Elbrus region attracts many fans of alpine skiing and freeride, from professionals to beginners. If the Elbrus Azau resort is perfect for the latter, then professionals should pay attention to Cheget.

We have studied all the features of the infrastructure and slopes of the resorts so that you can prepare and make an informed choice, and also updated prices for the 2016/2017 ski season.