Lunchtime Legends
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El'brus Expedition 2003
El'brus stands at 5642 m or 20,000 ft and is Europe's highest mountain. It is situated just north of the main Caucasus chain - a range almost 1000 miles long with a heavy glaciated central section containing many severe summits rising well above 20,000 ft.
On the 21st of June Edward, Neal and Jamie ('the Darling'), flew off on their latest adventure to attempt the summit of El'brus. First to Moscow and St Petersburg to do some sightseeing round the main cities, gathering their nerves for the big climb. Then a flight on to Minerclynu Vody, a spa town on the plains north of the Caucasus', from here they would begin their acclimatization for altitude.
Setting out on a long trek up glaciers, having to use unfamiliar crampons and ice axe, over steep rugged ground on glaciers and glacial deposits they find camp from which to attempt the summit. On Wednesday, 2nd July the Belfast group attempt the summit. After seven and a half hours the group suffering from altitude sickness and freezing conditions are forced to turn back only 300ft from the summit. They began at 9:38 am this morning and although one other group reached the top a couple of hours earlier three groups were forced to abandon reaching the summit due to gale force winds and a snow whiteout.
Edward on telephone this morning (2nd) expressed his disappointment and that of the group however feel they followed the right advice and decision of the leader with expert knowledge of the Caucasus and the threatening Artic weather. We now await their return on Saturday night and, of course look forward to a few jars to accompany hero's stories.
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