Elbrus Race course information

There are three different events in the International Elbrus Race.

Speed hiking Colorado 14'ers as training for Elbrus Race 2013

Qualifier:

Run uphill from the Barrels Huts to Pastukhova Rocks, approximately 3600 vertical feet over 2.5 miles averaging 27% grade. This is primarily on glacial snow, with a few cracks depending on the seasonal conditions. Near the Barrels there might be a bit of lava gravel mixed in with the snow.

Everyone has to do the Qualifier, this year on September 18 at 11:00 AM. There is a two hour cutoff for the ascent, and everyone must be back to the huts by 4:00 PM or be disqualified. After you qualify, you are eligible to run either of the two following events.

Extreme:

Run uphill from Azau, the lift station in the valley, up to the West, highest summit of Elbrus. Up to the Barrels Huts is generally on a rough dirt road frequented by military cargo vehicles. Above Mir Tram Station the road becomes much rougher dirt and rock, and then at the Barrels transitions to glacial snow and ice. You are allowed to leave a bag of clothes, shoes, and gear at the Barrels so that you can change into glacier running mode.

The course is roughly 10,700' over 7.6 miles and averaging 26.5% grade. This is a very tough race. It starts at the lift station at 6:00 AM. You have until noon to summit, then must be back at the huts by 4:00 PM.

Classic:

Run uphill from the Barrels Huts to the West summit of Elbrus with 6,400' of elevation gain over 4.6 miles and averaging 26% grade. Except possibly a short section in the beginning, the course is all on glacial snow and ice. The race starts at 7:00 AM and you have until noon to summit, and must be back to the Barrels by 4:00 PM.

The chart above 

shows the results from 2010 for the top male and female finishers, plus the Top Ten of all finishers. There is no data from 2011 when there was no race, or from 2012 when the race was called off shortly after the first few finishers had hit the summit, due to increasingly bad weather.

When you run in an event like this you normally don't carry the usual emergency and cold weather gear that you would in a normal summit attempt on a 5,000 meter peak. That means you are much more dependent on the weather holding out for the duration of the event, though in this case that's only about nine hours.

The chart also shows the absolute minimum speeds to achieve the cutoff times for the Qualifier and Classic events, if just finishing is your only goal.

I'll share some training considerations based on this chart in an upcoming post. Stay tuned. Subscribe.

Introduction to Elbrus Race 2013

Elbrus Race: You can't race any higher in Europe. [CLICK HERE]

This race has been held on and off since 1989 and is historically the oldest race on Elbrus. History quoted in part below (multiple SIC not denoted in text).

Vladimir Balyberdin was the first who had understood the annual Elbrus speed climb Championship perspectives. In 1989 he organized  the first Elbrus race — from Priut 11 till the col. September was choosed with a special reson – it is the best season here. There is no ice on the route usually in September, and the whole way to the tops is oftrn safer than in other seasons. Next race was in 1990. Anatoly Boukreev was a legend of that races — he won in 1990 — and his result was 1 hour 47 min (Priut 11 — East top).

There is another race in May, sanctioned by the International Skyrunning Association, with events like the Vertical Km and marathon races. The one in September isn't sanctioned, but from statistics I've seen seems to have faster times for the main events, though I don't know if it's apples to apples or apples to oranges, as there is more softer snow typically in May, and they may not begin at the exact same point at the Barrels Huts.

Elbrus Race 2010 myself as #24 and the first American entrant in many years

I entered the Elbrus Race 2010 event, and passed the qualifier, but became sick from bad water and was pulled from the main event, the Classic Race on the morning of race day by the event doctor.

In 2011 the area was closed to outsiders because of terrorist activity including bombing. In 2012 I wanted to attend, but there were logistical issues that prevented me from going the week of the race. In any event the race was called for weather shortly after the first runner passed the finish line. I also had issues with cold and wind when I went a little over a week later, and was not able to summit.

When my friend Todd Gilles, a professional figure skater, and I started climbing Colorado 14'ers in winter I thought maybe we had the potential to form a team for Elbrus. We also did a very quick ascent with no acclimatization on Orizaba, the highest volcano in North America and highest peak in Mexico at 18,500' - almost identical to Elbrus in height.

Todd Gilles and Charles Miske High-5 on the summit of Orizaba 5 March 2013

Recently we formed a team and entered the competition. We have begun training in Colorado with various trail running and climbing activities, and will be ramping up the training a few notches over the next couple months and sharing that with you here.

We'll also be sharing some information specific to Elbrus Race 2013, with stats and figures for elevation, distances, and previous winning times. Stay tuned. Subscribe.