Summary in English
A mountaineering trip to the Caucasus, 10.07-03.08.2000 

The web-page is in Estonian, but browsing through the menu on the left you can get some information and watch some slides and graphs:
avaleht is just a brief opening page.
grupp means "group members". Photos of 8 members are divided into 4 individual pages, for the next two members you can press the "järgmised kaks>" - button.
marsruut means "the route". Includes site map, two tables and a route-graph. Broadly, we started our journey from Tallinn, capital of Estonia. Then by train via St.Petersburg to Mineralnye Vody, by bus and by car to Bezengi alpinists camp (at 2050 m). For acclimatizing we made a short trip to Mizhirgi Valley and a 5-day hike to the Bezengi Glacier. We climbed some passes and easy peaks, 3600-4000 m (Semenov Peak, Kel Pass, Tsanner Pass). Weather was clear and hot by day, but some strong thunder-storms occured by night. As a result, a mud flow rushed to the city of Tyrnyauz, some 50 km away; 5 strong Russian climbers were killed in the technical ice-walls above the Bezengi camp. Then we headed towards the Elbrus area. Crossing Stolbovoi (3540), Tyutyurgyu (3700) and Golubev (3800) passes we reached Ullu-Tau, another alpinists camp remained in the area. Finally we ascended the "Priyut 11" (4200) and climbed Mount Elbrus (W-peak 5642, E-peak 5621). On our journey out the transport was hectic in the Baksan Valley, due to a severe situation in Tyrnyauz. And finally, via Moscow back to Tallinn. Our hiking route (17 days) was 145 km long, total ascents summed up about 11 km and descents 12 km.
pildid means "slide show". There are 66 pictures. "uus pilt>"- button gives you the next picture, "<avaleht" brings back to the opening page.
lühipäevik is a short diary in Estonian.
soovitusi offers advice and some technical information about the trip. The total cost was about 300 USD per person (incl. visa, insurance, train tickets, food supply, local transport and living costs, etc.) - we used only basic facilities.
lingid is a collection of links, incl. Bezengi and Elbrus area plus some pages of mountaineering clubs in Estonia.

webmaster: Ylo Suursaar: ys@sea.ee