Elegant Elbrus !

It all started with a white lie. Innumerable questions are unanswerable, like I am trekking, what do you do? It was my dream to travel around 7 continents of the world. Africa was what I was aiming for – the year 2013. Somehow the Kilimanjaro didn’t work out and the summit to Elbrus, highest mountain in Europe and Russia caught my attention. So signed up for the same. There was a slight chill in the heart when I realized that Elbrus had highest mortality rate and also -35* weather. However, the decision was intact. Prepared by running 5k every day and climbing the staircase and also building up a positive mindset. Started buying the stuff for the trek, skipoles, down jacket, balaclava, gaiters….just one after the other and finally my 80 liters backpack. The days were nearing for the trek. Had no courage to tell parents that I am going to climb the highest mountain in Europe and Russia. So, just mentioned that it’s a trip to Russia. They asked how many people are going, when it was answered with 12, they were fine. Then came the newspaper interview and snow-world. Finally an interview in TV-9. I knew that my parents might watch it. However, took a risk and finally didn’t get any question session from home so was fine assuming my parents are fine. I was relieved since I already informed my brother about this venture and I knew he would take care of the situation in the worst case. Got into Moscow flight, a long journey, slept most of the time and then we landed in Moscow. After some wait, we got into Mineralyne Vody flight. We reached MV by 2 pm. From there we had to travel 4 hours on road. We met Sergey Baranov (our ‘handsome’ guide) there. Then we headed towards Terskol, wherein we had to start our Elbrus journey. The on road journey was super awesome. We were briefed about our next-day trip and we had to check out our trekking gears (down jacket, fleece, gloves etc) with guide, so that we know what to rent the next day. Next day morning had breakfast and started towards rental shop. We got our snow boots (heavy boots) and we decided to take the rest of the items on the way back. Day-1 – Acclimatization trek to Mt.Cheget: We had to go in ski-lifts till one-point and then start our trek. It was the first day-trial with snow boot. It was like carrying 3kg weight on your feet. Not too easy as it looked like. Was feeling tired, but liked the climb. We reached the summit and on the way back- we had to walk in soft snow. Though it looked like fun, it was little hectic too, for a first timer to walk in snow. However, managed to come down and get into a restaurant. We had our lunch there, a nearby place and walked through the Terskol market and came back to the rental place. Got all our rentals – Snow-goggles, ice-axe, crampons, harness, mittens, etc. That night after dinner, we were briefed about the next-day plan, wherein we were supposed to travel 15 minutes, then ski-lift (gandolas) and then a hike for 6 hours. A long day. Night before sleeping kind of segregated our back-packs (for the hike and Russian tour). Day 2- to Huts - Morning after breakfast, started to ski-lift. Got into the cable cars and went up to – 3550 mtrs. We had to wait there for 6 hours due to snow. The entire road was filled with snow and the vehicle which had to carry our back-packs couldn’t move. So, we were sitting and playing anthakshari after our photo sessions. Preety and I got our share of pics with the snow-bike, all posing and modeling. It was fun watching few Russians singing “Jimi Jimi Jimi, aaja aaja aaja” whenever they spotted some Indians around. Then we started walking for some-time to reach our huts. We reached the hut and then relaxed for some-time, had our dinner. Next day plan was briefed. Day 3- Acclimatization hike till 4600mtrs – We started our day, though we were supposed to start early, we were little behind time. Sergey used to tease us for our time-sense. We started our walk, a long walk with snow-boots. Today, I was little more comfortable with the boots, though they were heavy, they were of great support. We reached till 4500 mtrs and it started snowing. Hence we couldn’t go further, we started climbing down. Chris came to my help while climbing down. We reached the hut and then took rest. Day 4- Resting and Ice-Axe Lesson Day – We started little late and went to a nearby place (half-an hour walk). Started on our crampons. All that was fun and play in the snow. Sliding down, ice-axe self-arrest, walking with crampons….etc. We came back to the hut and had lunch. We were briefed about the next day – Summit hike. Asked to rest. I couldn’t somehow sleep either during the day or in the night. I knew it’s going to tax on me the next day. But was all excited so couldn’t sleep a wink. Kept my back-pack ready for the next day. Day 5- Summit Day: Got up by 3 am (can say didn’t sleep at all). Got ready. We started towards snow-cat by 5 am. Got down and started hiking. As soon as we got down, I lost my mitten; it just blew away in the wind. Vladimir tried to catch it, however, he couldn’t. By the time, he took out another pair of mittens and I tried to wear it, the group already moved away from me. However, we started walking. It was quite tiring. But still started walking. Used to get all the thoughts in my mind and the biggest thought was how to reach the group. Used to walk from flag to flag. But that gap, I wasn’t able to cover up. Then came Alex, Vladimir moved ahead. Alex started walking saying, this is how you walk, step by step. Kind of started following Alex. Then I reached the first settle down point. I kept my bag down there. And started climbing up (the tough patch). All this while I could see the group, ahead of me. Again slowly started walking and this Alex moved ahead, another Alex came in. Then we started talking in our broken language along with the walk. Tried telling Alex, no matter what he has to take me there to the summit or else I might even kill him (now while writing this, I sit back and laugh), but I actually did say that. I don’t know what Alex understood, he laughed. Then again we started walking. We reached another resting point. I saw Sergey coming showing thumbs up. I didn’t get what he was trying to say. Alex told me that, if you can’t make in another 20 minutes, they are coming down. I started almost like running, didn’t put my foot down or take a step, just started walking without stop. Alex started saying “very good very good”. Even then, I felt like laughing. I ate one snicker bar and continued my walk again. In between Alex taking my pics here and there used to boost me. He said, we are almost there, once you cross this point, you can see the summit. We crossed that point, therein I saw the rest of the team walking on their way to the summit. I saw Satya waiting there. I reached Satya, I was tired but had enough strength to walk up till there. When I saw the summit point, I knew I will be there, come what may. We started walking. Then Sergey came and told me “you’ve just 5 minutes”. I don’t know from where the hidden energy popped up, I tried to rush and of course, finally with Sergey and Satya I was on the top. Wow, what a majestic view, feeling, moment……It was all worth. Coming down wasn’t an easy task. We were roped down and then started walking. Finally made it to the snow-cat with all the difficulties. And got back to the hut. Hakim was with arms wide open was welcoming us. It was like back home. Hugged everyone….felt so happy….! That night had the best sleep of my life (the first night after 5 days, wherein I didn’t even get up in between for loo break). Strange body and mind. Day-6 – Back to Base - After the happiest night, we got back down. Carrying my 20kg backpack was awesome. But, still it was a good experience. Came down to Alamat, had lunch and then we went to give back the rentals. It was a beautiful evening, just loitering around in the backyard, neighboring shops, a small sneak peek to Terskol market in search of souvenirs etc. to be cntd....