{"id":37353,"date":"2016-01-17T11:08:02","date_gmt":"2016-01-17T08:08:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mountainguides.pro\/?p=37353"},"modified":"2026-09-10T16:10:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T13:10:26","slug":"elbrus-climbing-advice-for-beginners-part-one","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mountainguides.pro\/ar\/2016\/01\/17\/elbrus-climbing-advice-for-beginners-part-one\/","title":{"rendered":"Climbing Elbrus: Advice for Beginners, Part One"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is true that you sometimes meet people in the mountains who ended up there entirely by chance. It was not driven by any inner impulse; it is better described as an obvious mismatch between reality and expectation. The result, at best, is that the person is disappointed in the mountains and in mountaineering as a whole. Let us look at why this happens. The classic situation goes like this: someone with no connection to mountaineering decides to climb a mountain. They start looking for the information they need on the internet, where they may run into an enormous volume of contradictory material. Wanting answers to their questions, an inexperienced climber often finds it hard to filter it and draw the right conclusions. It will be excellent if they find someone who gives them sound advice and recommendations, and if they are able to follow it. The chances of that, though, are slim. Sometimes even the companies that organise such trips cannot give clear answers to the questions that come up. In the end the person goes to the mountains over the New Year holidays, say, and a trip like that will most likely put them off mountaineering for good. There is a chance, though, that this beginner, running into difficulties, will learn from their mistakes and learn to separate what matters from what does not. In that case they will be able to feel the joy of walking and climbing in the mountains. We offer a few pieces of advice to anyone setting out to climb to the top of a mountain.<\/p>\n\n

Where should you start? If you want to learn mountaineering, we recommend joining one of the old climbing clubs. That will let you train regularly and work under the guidance of experienced climbers, taking part in various expeditions and learning the basics of the sport. You will also be sure to get answers to all the questions that interest you, and you will be able to move gradually from the simple to the difficult and become a professional.<\/p>\n\n

If you are not planning to become a professional climber and simply want to spend a holiday in the mountains and find out what a climb is like \u2014 if your immediate goal is to go up Elbrus, say \u2014 then you should start with preparation. The factors that determine whether your climb succeeds can be set out as follows: physical condition and health, equipment, acclimatisation, the organiser of the climb and, of course, luck. Let us talk about each of these in more detail, starting with physical preparation for a climb up Elbrus. For a future climber the most important thing is running, and it makes no difference where exactly you run, on the road or on rough ground. If it is winter, you can ski, in any weather. Nothing should stop you on the way to your goal. Regular running will help you build the physical condition you need for a successful climb of Elbrus from the south or from the north, and it should be done at a pace that is comfortable for you.<\/p>\n\n

What is acclimatisation? As you gain height the air becomes thinner and the pressure of oxygen in the atmosphere falls. This can lead to hypoxia, or oxygen starvation, and to altitude sickness. Every climber going high can run into this problem. A person can, however, adapt to hypoxia at altitude, and that process is called acclimatisation. Without adequate acclimatisation it is impossible to climb to the summit of a high mountain.<\/p>\n\n

Equipment matters no less. There is nothing to be done in the mountains without properly chosen equipment, and this question deserves serious attention. We will single out several points that often go without the attention they deserve. You can of course spend a lot of money on equipment if your budget allows. It is worth visiting a shop that sells climbing equipment and, with the help of the assistants’ advice, buying what you need. Yet even if you buy the most expensive, most modern equipment there is, that does not guarantee a successful climb of Elbrus. Everest, for example, was climbed in 1959, and equipment then was a long way from today’s standard. That did not stop the climbers from reaching the summit successfully. Today anyone can buy the equipment they need at an affordable price. The main thing is to choose it correctly, and someone who knows the subject will help you with that. Where do you find such a person? One option is to ask the organisers of your trip. Important advice: never economise on your rucksack, your boots and what is known as the hardware. As for the rest, you can save a little there, especially if you are buying equipment for a summer climb of Elbrus. Using discounts and special offers can help you save even more. It should be said that you should not ask shop assistants for help choosing equipment, because they do not always know enough and as a rule rely only on manufacturers’ catalogues. As a result beginners often buy models of equipment they do not need. Hiring equipment is a good option and will let you save money. And once you realise that mountaineering is for you, then you can buy your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Related:<\/strong> all Elbrus routes and programmes<\/a> – preparing for Elbrus<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n

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What to read next<\/h2>\n

See the programme:<\/strong> Climbing Elbrus from the south, 9 days<\/a><\/p>\n