Blog

In our experience, many trekkers & climbers with any international experience have likely summited Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro, based on its relative accessibility and the mountain’s reputation for being the “easiest” of the Seven Summits.  Following a successful summit of Kilimanjaro, most climbers will turn their attention to more technical peaks to gain more high-altitude experience & skills. Enter Mt. Kazbek.  Despite Kazbek being several hundred meters lower than Kilimanjaro, there are a lot of reasons why this “Pearl of the …

Climbing Kazbek and Kilimanjaro: Comparing two 5,000 meter peaks Read More »

We are often asked the questions: “What is the best way to train for Mount Kazbek?” or “How can I train for climbing Mount Kazbek while living at low elevation?”  Most climbers are aware that the high elevation is a significant challenge to climbing a mountain over 16,500 feet like Mount Kazbek. Many know that living at a higher elevation, like in the Rockies or Cascades, which are home to many 14-ers (i.e. peaks over 14,000 feet), can be a …

Training to climb Mount Kazbek – Three ways to prep for this 16,581 ft. summit! Read More »

In the already unique North Caucasus Mountains of Russia, the republic of North Ossetia stands out as one of the more (if not most) unique places to visit in this corner of the world.  Consider this.  North Ossetia is the only republic in the North Caucasus that: -Has linguistic ties to Persia/Iran -Where Islam is not the primary religion, and where traditional/pagan religion is still alive -Home to the only road from Russia into the country of Georgia through the …

Travel Guide to North Ossetia: Big Capital, Bigger Culture, Biggest Mountains Read More »

  Like many of you, we’re all itching to get back to doing what we love:  experiencing the excitement of travel to a foreign land.  What does this mean for your planned Russia Trip or Mt. Elbrus Climb in 2022?  For one, travel to Russia IS open to citizens of more than 80 countries!  Here is the most updated travel information as of Dec. 1, 2021: Countries whose citizens are being allowed travel into Russia: -Europe: Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Slovenia, Denmark, …

Travel to Russia in 2022: Covid-19 Update Read More »

As often is the case with off-the-beaten-path destinations around the world, they can be well-known by foreigners for all the wrong reasons.  Dagestan is a great example of this.  In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Dagestan began registering on foreigners’ radars because of the spillover of the Chechen wars into the region.  Then, once things stabilized post-war, Dagestan’s wrestlers hit the international scene, reaching its pinnacle when Khabib Nurmagomedov defeated Irishman Conor MacGregor for the UFC world championship in …

Travel Guide to Dagestan: Welcome to Russia’s Wild West! Read More »

Chechnya is one of the few places in the North Caucasus that most foreigners have heard of before.  Especially due to the wars in the region in the 1990s and early 2000s, the word “Chechnya” has stuck in people’s memories, most often with negative connotations of being dangerous and unstable.  The present reality, though, is that the security situation has really stabilized, and the number of domestic and foreign tourists traveling to Chechnya continues to grow each year.  Maybe you …

Travel Guide to Chechnya: Mosques and Mountains! Read More »

Within the international climbing community, Mt. Elbrus is well-known as Europe’s highest peak, or one of the 7 Summits.  But how well-known is it outside of the climbing community?  In my experience, not very!  There are actually lots of interesting historical and cultural tidbits about Mt. Elbrus that touch many facets of life you may already be familiar with.  It’s more than just a mountain to climb!  Enjoy this article about Mt. Elbrus, for climbers and non-climbers alike!  1)  Highest …

More Than a Climb: 10 Fun Facts about Mt Elbrus Read More »

They say that good things come in small packages.  This is definitely the case with Ingushetia!  Despite being Russia’s smallest state, Ingushetia is well-worth a visit for its beautiful mountain landscapes, ancient towers, and unique cultural traditions.  Keep reading for practical details on how to visit this hidden gem of the North Caucasus, including access to an exclusive travel guide for the independent traveler! 1. How do I get there? Even though you may have never heard of Ingushetia, that …

Your Travel Guide to Ingushetia: Land of the Towers! Read More »

Every summer, thousands of foreigners flood into the Caucasus Mountains of Russia to climb Mt. Elbrus, Europe’s highest peak.  At first glance, the obvious route to climb is the South Route, the most popular of options among climbers (i.e. 80-90% of climbers choose the South Route).  With that being said, the North Route is growing in popularity because of its more remote feel and being 100% on foot.  So, which route should you take?  Let’s compare and contrast and see …

South Route or North Route? Comparing the two routes to Mt. Elbrus’s Summit Read More »