Mt. Elbrus

[xara]

Added after a dispute with customers on July 15, 2009.
It was not clearly stated on our web site before however we always stick to this policy and our web site meant exactly this condition.

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Only one Elbrus summit attempt is included in our tour cost.
A hike/climb will be considered as attempt if a group with our guides starts earlier than 5 am from huts and reaches elevation at least 5000 meters.

Yes, there are 2-3 reserve days for a climb. However that does not mean 2-3 attempts. These reserve days will be utilized in case of bad weather. A group can wait 2-3 days and make an attempt when the weather is better.

If summit attempt was not successful (for a person or for a group), there are still reserved days in huts and group (person) can stay there and climb on their own. If one wishes to climb with a guide there is additional cost for a guide.

Why we have this limitation?

There are some reasons. Because the economical reason seems to be more understandable, here is the economical explanation below. Other reasons are also important but hardly may be completely explained here.


If we "include" as many attempts as participants wish (we have 3-4 reserve days) there may be 3-4 attempts for everybody. Moreover people may want to try again personally on different days.. Why not? It is included! It brings complete anarchy in the itinerary. Some people will go down, some people will stay in huts and what is worse they will have right to change their mind many times within one hour.
To handle all this headache we must make a tour at least 50% more expensive.

Why? Cost of guides work is high during the climb. We must pay for additional guides and cook IRREGARDLESS if we finally use them or not. If we declare one can stay and try again we must arrange a guide and cook in all cases. But we can not just call to a guide and say - tonight you climb with a customer. We can not call to a cook and say we need diner today. They must be here already i.e. they, their and client's accommodation, meals must be reserved, prepared and paid.

The situation when a group made an attempt and everybody wants to to try again happens probably 1 time for 5 seasons.
Should we make all 40 tours (groups) per season more expensive in order to make 2-3 attempts included?

More often case is when after a successful group climb some people return without success and want to try again on the next day.
Must other people who climbed the top successfully pay higher cost for their tour to let other people stay in huts and try again and again?

To make tours cheaper for all we made a decision to include only one attempt in the tour cost. In most cases one attempt is enough for a person irregardless if he successfully climbed the top or not. We consider that other participants must not pay for those who wish to climb again.

More attempts are NOT prohibited, if one wants he can climb again and again. We even keep reservation in huts. But if he wants a guide the guide must be paid. We think this is a fair play.