I have been curious about the Elbrus Race 2013 Itinerary since 2010. At that time I did the Qualifier in spite of having to squeeze my cheeks together from intestinal illness. I did qualify, but had to see the event doctor the morning of the Race, and was medicated and pulled out. I have been wanting to go back for the last few years. In 2011 there was no race, as the area was closed. In 2012 I had already booked an event the week of the race. I did not see the announcement with the schedule in time to put it on the calendar in time. Instead I ended up going to Russia a couple weeks after.
This resulted in my book “Elbrus, My Waterloo” [available on Amazon]. The quote below is from my second acclimatization hike, to Pastukhova Rocks, about 3,000′ above the Barrels Huts. I did not go fast enough to Qualify, missed it by 16 minutes, but I wasn’t training that way in 2012.
The conditions reminded me of the Muir Snowfield on Rainier in September. Open crevasses in the middle of the snowcat trail, water running over gravel-dusted ice with a layer of slush, bare dirt hills at 40% or better grade with waterfalls running down them…
The trail angled just to the left at Pastukhova Rocks, which seemed quite bare this fall. I had set a goal of hitting the Rocks at 1:00 PM, and I made 1:06. Amazing, 2:13 from the Barrels, but I was beat and empty. I didn’t want to take any more time out than I already had leaning over my poles to pant every hundred steps on the way up. Yes, I was counting. — Elbrus, My Waterloo
Training for the Elbrus Race 2013 Itinerary
I had a couple years in which I’d experimented with lower intensity work. I had some kidney and gall bladder issues to deal with. I had some problems at work to deal with. After I returned home from Aconcagua I did some experimenting with a hybrid training program based on my training for Elbrus Race. I attribute my success on Orizaba, and later on Carstensz, on my revised training. When I recently saw that the Elbrus Race 2013 Itinerary was pretty much the same as the itinerary they used for 2010 I was quite happy.
Over the next few months I’ll put up some more of my thoughts about training and preparing.
VIII international Elbrus Race 2013 program :
| Date | Days | Day’s program |
|---|---|---|
| 15.09.2013 | day 01 | Flight arrival to Min Vody. Transfer to Baksan Valley, Azau station. Accommodation in the Hotel Elba. |
| 16.09.2013 | day 02 | Acclimatization walking nearby. Accommodation in the Hotel Elba. |
| 17.09.2013 | day 03 | Transfer to Azau lift station. The opening of the competition. Going up to refuge “Barrels” ~3710m. Night at refuge “Barrels” |
| 18.09.2013 | day04 | Qualifying speed climb from Barrels hut to the Pastukov rocks, 4800 m. |
| 19.09.2013 | day 05 (full moon at 15:00 pm) |
Relax day. Night at the refuge “Barrels” |
| 20.09.2013 | day 06 | Speed Climb of Mt. Elbrus West 5642 m. “Classic” from hut Barrels (3710) &“Extreme” from Azau 2400m Descent from Barrels to the Valley |
| 21.09.2013 | day 07 | spare day for the Race or Awards Ceremony at the morning & The farewell party at the evening |
| 22.09.2013 | day 08 | Transfer to airport. Flight from Min Vody.. |
If you’d like to read the Elbrus Race 2013 Itinerary for yourself, or want more information [CLICK HERE]