I had never been in the mountains before…

by Ivan Kovalev (Russia)

A leap into the unknown Russia

I had never been in the mountains before… The beginning of August. You're sitting with a group on the train, and it is almost 2 days to go. You realize that you are already letting go of all the problems: relief has come and finally a well-deserved rest. It turns out that you are not the only one here: Masha has been working in the office for 15 years and goes out only on weekends, Sergey is a firefighter, saves lives, and probably decided to become our guardian angel on the ascent. Everyone is so different, but you begin to understand that you are happy with these people, that they are YOUR people! Stop in Pyatigorsk and move to the base camp - a tent and a heavy backpack, from which in 20 minutes your feet start to hurt, but it doesn't worry you anymore, because you are in your place. The blinding sun, the light coolness, the noise of a stormy river, the gaggle of geese and a gobbler walking alone - so we are greeted by a fresh morning Elbrus and as if beckoning to it, and we go to meet it, as if in a daze. Hundreds of photos on the background of mountains: "Here I’m standing at the waterfall , here I’m with equipment at the toilet, and here I’m with snow in my mouth". You feel that everything is getting better. What do you know about mountain weather?! Just 10 minutes ago there was sun, and now a heavy rain with wild gusts, which is replaced by fog. On the fourth day you write SMS: "Mom, I'm on Elbrus, I'm doing well: the food is good, dress me warmly, don't offend me, tomorrow we’ll storm". And then everything in smoke. Judgment night. No sleep. Excitement. Packing things. Hearty breakfast. Sit before the road. Flashlight on the forehead, camera in the bag, ice axe behind your back, sticks in your hands – you ‘re ready! You must. You can do it! The monotonous ascent at the last gasp, hundreds of lights, a red snotty nose, the back of the person in front of you, which you are already quite tired of. But all this fades with the coming morning: the slope is filled with warm light, the wind goes away for a while, now you can admire the views and take a breath. Here is already "Oblique shelf", now maximum focus, step in step. Somewhere at this time on the slope of Elbrus. 10:01 It's a pity that Sveta turned around in front of the Oblique shelf, I thought she would come. 10: 43 My head is empty. I'm so tired. I stop every 3 steps. I just want to fall. Why didn't I stay at home?! 10: 44 The instructor is urging us on. He says that we can’t rest for a long time now, because the forces are less and less every minute. I see lights. I want to undress. 10: 56 The others are no easier. This is Masha's second attempt to climb, but she's all blue beside me. It seems that mountain sickness is slowly spreading. 11:15 People are scurrying around: someone else is climbing, and someone is already happy and pleased hurries down to call his family and tell everyone that he could! Nothing, soon and we… 11:23 We must hurry, at any moment Elbrus maybe enveloped by clouds. 11:27 Step left. Step the right. Step left. Stop. Step left. Step the right. Step left. Stop. 11:37 Yes, it’s a pity, of course, that Vasya was ill at the wrong time, I hope he won’t worry much about this. Another time, another time… 11:48 Last meter. Be patient, it's just a little bit left . 12: 03 TOP! Really?! No euphoria, nothing, I just want to fall. I think I should sit down for a few minutes. 12: 07 Masha and Sergey are here: they got there after all, well done! Sergey has only one stick, perhaps it was his stick I saw on the slope. 12: 10 Still, it's beautiful here. I'll go down, take a break, and then I'll go to Kazbek!