Elbrus Race 2013 Course Map

I've borrowed a photo from the official website of the Elbrus Race 2013. If you go to that link you'll see their little video of a flash map view of the course. I added a few lines and words to the photo to make it easier to see. The barrels aren't visible in this image but they should be on the edge of the black scree hidden from view in the center. Maybe a bit more to the right but it's hard to tell.

Elbrus Race 2013 - route in orange

The first part of the route goes up the snowcat route to the Pastukhova rocks a little below 5,000 meters. This is normally where normal route climbers go for an acclimatization hike a day or two before summit day. It's a fun little walk, and almost every time I've done it I've been in trail running shoes. This is also the end point for the Qualifier, two days before the race. I made the qualifier in 2010 in spite of serious major dysentery.

The route continues up to a little over 5,000 meters toward the East summit, then cuts over to the saddle where it traverses until you get to the ridge line where you turn to ascend to the West summit. This traverse area is actually one of the most dangerous sections of the trail. If you are descending in poor weather conditions it's really easy to get lost and end up going too far down into an area of crevasses and steeper ice and cliffs. Be careful. It's normally well wanded though.

The orange line represents the Classic Race - 4.6 miles and 6,300' of elevation gain. That's 7.4 km and 1900 meters.

My Elbrus Ebook from 2012

I wrote about my failed attempt on Elbrus in 2012 in Elbrus, My Waterloo, available on Amazon Kindle. After the Elbrus Race 2013 is over I'll be adding in chapters from both trips in 2010, and this year at the race. I'll then publish it in print and on B&N. Look forward to the whole story, coming this Fall.