The highest altitudes in Europe, long slopes for descent of varying degrees of difficulty, a pleasant climate, snowy winters, comfortable temperatures and a lot of sun - these are the factors for which mountains are so loved North Caucasus.

The Elbrus region attracts many fans of alpine skiing and freeride, from professionals to beginners. If the Elbrus Azau resort is perfect for the latter, then professionals should pay attention to Cheget.

We have studied all the features of the infrastructure and slopes of the resorts so that you can prepare and make an informed choice, and also updated prices for the 2016/2017 ski season.

By plane

It is convenient to fly to this ski resort from distant places by plane. Tickets need to be taken to Mineralnye Vody airports (you can allocate half a day to) or Nalchik ().

Mineralnye Vody Airport: direct flights from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Yekaterinburg, Lipetsk, Norilsk, Simferopol, etc. From other cities, a flight with a transfer in Moscow is possible.
Travel time from Moscow: 2 hours
6,000 - 9,000 rub.

Nalchik Airport: direct flights from Moscow. From other cities it is possible to fly with a transfer in Moscow.
Travel time from Moscow: 2 hours
Average cost of a round trip ticket: from 11,000 rub.

Check the exact price of air tickets for the dates you need:

By train

If trains are closer to you, then in addition to Nalchik and Mineralnye Vody you can go to Prokhladny or Pyatigorsk.

Trains from many places go to Mineralnye Vody and Pyatigorsk stations major cities Russia.
Travel time from Moscow: 1 day

To the slopes of Elbrus and Cheget by bus/car

From these large cities there is excellent bus service to the Cheget and Elbrus-Azau routes. In addition to relatively cheap regular buses, which will take you there in 2.5-3.5 hours, there are also minibuses and regular taxis, which will be somewhat more expensive, but without reference to the schedule. It's better to bargain with taxi drivers. During peak season, the price is so inflated that you can persuade the driver to pay 2/3 of the originally announced price.

The distance to the slopes from Nalchik is 130 km. A little further from Mineralnye Vody - 180 km.

When driving by car, you need to get to the post of the city of Baksan, and then head towards the villages of Tyrnyauz and Elbrus, behind which the resort area will be located.

Resort area villages

In total, there are 6 villages in the resort area, which stretch along the Baksan Gorge for 16 km, but have developed infrastructure for tourism 3. Travel from villages to ski lifts by taxi.

Ski season

The ski season is from October almost until May, and above Garabashi the slopes are in acceptable condition all year round. The most pleasant time is February, March, April. In March the weather is so good that you can see sunbathers on the slopes.

  • By purchasing a ski pass for the entire duration of your vacation, you save money;
  • No waiting in line to buy a one-time ski pass.

A small clarification: if you want to use the rope tow, then the general ski pass does not apply to it. You will need to buy a one-time ticket.

There are two main ski areas in the Elbrus region: Elbrus Azau and Cheget. We will tell you more about them.

Elbrus - Azau

Start getting acquainted with alpine skiing need from the Elbrus slope in the first place.

A day or two is definitely needed to get used to the climate. If you immediately climb to the maximum altitude, you can easily get altitude sickness.

Manifestations of the disease are not pleasant: fatigue, shortness of breath, headache, rapid heartbeat, flatulence, nausea, leading to vomiting. Therefore, do not deny your body a period of adaptation and get used to the altitude gradually.

Beautiful official video about the 2015/16 season on Elbrus:

Prices for ski passes for cable cars on the Elbrus-Azau slope

There are three lifts on the slopes of Elbrus-Azau - the first, second and third stages. The rate for a ski pass depends on the number of days for which the ski pass is purchased, the date (holidays are more expensive), and the lifts used. Below is information from the official website of the resort on prices for the 2018/2019 season:



In addition to the actual cost, they will also charge you 100 rubles per plastic card ski pass, and the amount will be returned after the card is returned.

The first stage is the lowest point for skiing, the third is the highest. The higher you plan to climb and the longer the slopes available to you, the more expensive the ski pass will be.

Below we will look at which lifts go where and how these lines differ from each other.

Cable cars

There are as many as 7 of them on the slope of Elbrus, one of which is still under construction. The length of the roads is divided into 3 parts - 2 transfers.

First of all goes from Azau station to Stary Kruzor. You can take the new Roma-1 gondola cable car up in 5 minutes, or use the Elbrus-1 pendulum cable car, which will take you there in 12 minutes. The length of the routes in the first case is 1740, in the second – 1900 meters, passing at an altitude of up to 3000 meters above sea level.

Second stage goes from the Stary Krugozor station to the Mir station, taking you to a height of three and a half thousand meters in 7 minutes on Roma-2 or 12 minutes on Elbrus-2. During this time you will cover a distance of 1800 meters.

Third stage will take you to a height of 3780 meters in 15 minutes on the Elbrus chairlift. The gondola cable car duplicating this kilometer-long ascent is not yet ready for commissioning.

You can climb even higher - to Shelter-11, using a snowcat or snowmobile. The ascent will take about 20 minutes and will cost from 400 rubles.

The drag road goes through the Azau clearing for 5 minutes and rises from 2300 meters to 2500.

Elbrus-Azau routes

On the slopes of Elbrus there are 7 trails, more suitable for beginners and amateurs than the Cheget trails. Although in fact the tracks are not separated from each other in any way and represent a wide common area for skiing.

  • From “Shelter-11” to “Gara-Bashi” there is a wide, gentle slope, suitable for training beginners when they get used to the highlands.
  • From “Gara-Bashi” to “Mir” station the elevation difference will be 280 meters. The route is flat and wide, quite steep and has a medium degree of difficulty. The one on the right is narrower and steeper than the one on the left.
  • From “Mir” to “Old Horizon” the elevation difference is 500 meters. The beginning of this section is only for the most experienced. A little lower, the descent will be manageable for an amateur who is firmly on his skis.
  • From Krugozor to the Azau clearing the difference is 650 meters. At first narrow and steep, the trail gradually widens to a moderate level of difficulty.

In this video you can clearly see the descent from Mir Station to the Azau clearing, 4.5 km:

The total length of the descent from the Garabashi point to Azau is 6815 meters, with a track width of 60 to 80 meters, which meets international standards for skiing.

Garabashi Gorge, Terskol Gorge, Observatory and Semifinal, as well as several smaller life-threatening tracks, are used by fans of freeriding.

Despite the serious rescue service and the presence of guides who can warn about the dangers and features of a particular route, accidents sometimes occur.

People die due to negligence, avalanches or falling into twenty-meter-deep cracks outside the areas of well-trodden trails.

Cheget

The slopes of Mount Cheget are definitely not for beginners.

Ski pass to Cheget

If you have already purchased a ski pass for the slopes of Elbrus, you will have to buy it separately for Cheget. There are only two options on sale: excursion for 500 rubles and all day for 800.

Cheget cable cars

There are only three cable cars and two queues on Cheget. You can get from the Cheget clearing to the “Ai” cafe on the “Cheget-1” chairlift or a paired chairlift. A climb of 1600 meters in the first case will take you 11 minutes, in the second – 17. During this time you will rise from a height of 2700 to a height of 2750 meters above sea level.

The chairlift “Cheget-2” of the second stage lifts to a height of 3000 meters in 6 minutes. In these minutes, 900 meters of the mountain slope will fly under you.

Cheget trails

There are 15 trails in Cheget, with a total length of 20 km. The height difference from the top to the bottom is 950 meters.

The hilly terrain, steep slopes, and pine forest attract freeriders. Snowboarders prefer the southern slope - it is wider, although it retains the steepness of the slope.

There is nothing for beginners to do here. Except that there is a small piece of an easy track 350 meters long at the very top - above the Chegeta 3 station, which can only be reached by ski lift. Everything else is marked as trails of a high level of difficulty - for professionals and freeride descents. An additional risk is the possibility of avalanches and rocks.

Video of freeriders on Cheget:

Housing

Boarding houses and hotels

The easiest option to rent a hotel is to choose and book it on the official website of the resort: http://prielbrusie-ski.ru/view/accommodation/ or in a specialized housing aggregator in the Elbrus region - nedoma.ru

Or use hotel aggregators (Booking, Ostrovok, Oktogo) - there you can find truthful reviews and take advantage of aggregator bonuses.

Private sector

If you prefer apartment conditions, then it is better to stay in Terskol - this village is closest to the ski lifts. Cost from 500 rubles per person per day. The farther from ski slopes, the cheaper the housing. Consider options in Baidaevo, Tegenekli, Elbrus, Neutrino. The latter is located at a distance of 16-18 kilometers from Cheget and Azau.

Accompanying services

Rental

The resort has about a dozen shops where you can buy special equipment for sports or mountaineering. But such a purchase is not always justified. Therefore, it is easier and cheaper to contact rental offices. Rentals are carried out in the same stores or at special rental points in the Azau and Cheget valleys. Sometimes this service is provided in hotels for residents.

Rental is considered to be per day. A deposit and/or document is required for equipment or gear.

You can take a set at once: skis + poles + boots or snowboard + boots. Children cost 600 rubles, adults 900 rubles on the first day. In subsequent days or if you pay for several days at once - it’s cheaper, on January holidays it’s more expensive. Also available for rental are goggles, helmets, jackets, overalls, tents, sleds, waterproof trousers and many other things that do not even occur to beginners.

Rental places often provide repair services for damaged equipment.

Sports equipment stores

  • Terskol: “Alpindustria”, “Tourist equipment”, “Elbrus-navigator”, “Open world”
  • Polyana Azau: “Vertical”

Pharmacies

  • At the Azau cable car station
  • At the boarding house "Cheget" and the hotel "Snow Leopard" on the Cheget glade
  • In the post office building of the village of Terskol
  • In the village of Tyrnauz

ATMs

  • In the village of Terskol - Eurokommerts and Sberbank of Russia at the Elbrussia Hotel, Caucasian Development Bank at the Terskol tourist center
  • Polyana Cheget – “Sberbank of Russia” in the boarding house “Cheget”

Personal instructor

For those wishing to study with an instructor, please keep in mind that you must sign up in advance. Their work is in great demand. Approximately one hour of individual lessons costs 1000 rubles.

There are instructors teaching children.

You can catch such an important person near the ski lifts or directly during instruction in the clearings.

Each coach has his own approach. It will be better if you observe his work a little from the outside, and then decide whether to hire him or not.

If you're starting to ski for the first time, don't skimp on advice for a beginner. They can not only bring you pleasure, but also keep you healthy.

Transfer

You can order cars of different classes and different capacities, including minibuses and trucks. They will come to you at the time you specify and take you where you need to go. Meeting at the airport or train station is possible.

Connection

Communication works best at the ski resorts of the Caucasus mobile operators Megafon, MTS and Beeline. Don't forget that you will be in a roaming zone. Incoming calls are charged, outgoing calls are at a high price. Check the cost of services with your telecom operator.

Use walkie-talkies to communicate with friends on the slopes.

Wi-Fi and internet cafe

There is a café for Internet access in the boarding house “Cheget” in the clearing of the same name. Another one in Terskol. Wi-Fi is provided by many hotels and guesthouses.

Sights and entertainment of the Elbrus region

On our website there are also ones near Elbrus - it will help you plan your visit.

You can diversify your leisure time in the Elbrus region by visiting the following places:

  • National Park "Elbrus"
  • Valley of Narzans
  • Chegem waterfalls
  • Waterfall "Maiden's Braids"
  • Bezengi Glacier
  • Blue Lake

You can also play paintball in Terskol, master helibiking - mountain biking, ride horses of the famous Karachay breed, visit night club, disco bar, sauna, of which there are plenty right in the meadows of Cheget and Azau. Many hotels organize billiards tournaments.

On Elbrus, the third stage of the cable car was opened on the section “Mir Station” - “Garabashi Station” and a new ski slope with a length of about two thousand meters.

The new line from the Mir station is located at an altitude of 3455 meters, the highest point of the rise of Garabashi is 3847 meters.

Today we open the ski season on the most high mountain Europe - Elbrus, - said Lev Kuznetsov, Minister of the Russian Federation for North Caucasus Affairs, at the opening ceremony. - It is significant that we will be associated with this mountain with a unique ski lift that was built this year from the Mir station to the Garabashi station.

The head of the Ministry of Caucasus thanked the builders who, in a short time in difficult natural and climatic conditions were able to erect a unique structure and emphasized that the implementation of this project will allow our skiers to ski on Elbrus for a longer period of time.

Through this project, we also give Russians the opportunity to look more at domestic resorts and understand that today they are competitive,” Kuznetsov noted.

The new cable car on Elbrus has become the highest mountain, unparalleled in Russia and Europe. Before this, the highest cable car in Europe was considered to be the lift at the top of the Aiguille du Midi in the western part of the Mont Blanc massif, which is connected to the French resort of Chamonix. Here, the upper station of the cable car is located at an altitude of 3842 meters - five meters lower than on Elbrus. In conditions of construction in the mountains, taking into account the difference in altitude, this is a significant difference.

The length of the new cable car is 1675 meters; 12 supports were installed for its operation. French equipment was used during construction. The lift is equipped with eight-seater gondolas, its capacity is 750 people per hour, and in the future it will be increased to 1.5 thousand people. The project was implemented by North Caucasus Resorts JSC; the volume of capital investments in construction amounted to over 1 billion rubles.

In Europe they don’t build higher, and in Europe they don’t ride higher,” emphasized the head of Kabardino-Balkaria, Yuri Kokov. “But we understand that this is only the first step, that we need to develop the resort’s infrastructure so that it meets international standards. And we have a real chance to make a truly world-class resort in Russia.

Skiers have been waiting for the opening of the third stage of the World for a long time - after the commissioning of the new ski lift, the Elbrus region resort can rightfully be called all-season, since there is snow at these heights almost all year round. By the way, 50 meters from the new station there is the famous shelter for climbers “Barrels” - these are residential houses in the form of metal cylinders that were used in the construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline.

What is important is that the new section of the cable car is also accessible to people with disabilities- the width of some gondolas allows you to enter them on wheelchair. To board the gondola, the platform level is aligned with the gondola floor level at both the lower and upper stations. There are special lifts for access to the landing site from ground level. The level of the combined site of the second and third stages at Mir is combined, and a ramp is installed here.

The opening ceremony of the new ski lift kicked off the ski season. In the Azau clearing, all kinds of promotions and competitions were held for tourists and vacationers. An Instagram printer was installed in the photo zone decorated with ski paraphernalia, which printed photographs of tourists who published their photos on Instagram under the hashtag: #open_kurortelbrus. During the event, a prize was drawn for large quantity"likes".

In addition to the new gondola road, fans of skiing and snowboarding will find a new track on the Garabashi-Mir section, a wide run-out to the Mir station and another new ski track on the Mir-Krugozor section.

Work was carried out in advance to ensure the safety of the ski slopes - all problem areas along the ski areas, from which stones periodically fell off, were reinforced with special nets. A large rental of ski equipment, a new sportswear store and a service center have appeared.

This year, from January to March, 123 thousand people visited the Elbrus region. The upcoming ski season - 2016 may well break this record. As Alisa Tarim, head of the press service of the Elbrus district administration, said, places on new year holidays in hotels in the Elbrus region were completely sold out back in August-September. Moreover, apartments and suites were purchased first. And at the beginning of October it was almost impossible to book a place in an economy class room. Thus, during the New Year holidays, about 6-7 thousand people will be at the ski resort at a time - and these are only those who live in hotels. If we take into account people coming on excursions, more than 40 thousand people will visit the Elbrus region in the first days of January.

We can predict that at least 120 thousand people will have a rest during the winter season,” says Tarim. - And perhaps more.

Until 2020, it is planned to allocate more than 6 billion rubles for the development of the Elbrus special economic zone, he said CEO JSC "KSK" Oleg Gorchev. Ultimately, it is planned to create a comprehensive infrastructure at the Elbrus resort site, designed for a comfortable stay for 15 thousand tourists per day. The total length of the routes on Cheget and Elbrus will be more than 100 km, and the maximum capacity of all cable cars will reach 54 thousand people per day.

By the way

The highest gondola roads are in Bolivia at the ski resort on Mount Chacaltaya - height 5422 meters, in China, on the Himalayan glacier Dagu - station height - 4843 meters, and in Indonesia at the Jaya resort - height 4800 meters above sea level.

The universal slopes "Elbrus-Azau" are suitable for both professionals and amateur beginners, as they are attractive in their width and are superior in comfort to the slopes of Cheget.
Elbrus visually looks like " single route"and are suitable for tourists of any class.

Every year the resort hosts the “opening of the season”, approximately in the middle/end of November: the time when enough snow has already fallen and the slopes are prepared for skiing. But everything depends on the availability of snow; skating may be permitted and possible either earlier or later.

Riding on ski slope Elbrus Mountains are a great opportunity to learn new species winter sports and conquer the peaks of Elbrus, improving your skills.

Plan diagram of ski lifts and tracks of the Elbrus-Azau Group of Companies

Characteristics of the tracks of the Elbrus-Azau Group of Companies

The slopes of Mount Elbrus are predominantly “blue slopes” with transition in some places to “red slopes”. There are markers, grids and signs on the routes, but there are not many of them. And of course, for safety reasons, there is no need to drive outside the fence system.

In general, the Elbrus-Azau Group of Companies has 7 tracks. The total length of the slopes is approximately 11 kilometers. The totality of routes (in length) from the station. Gara-Bashi to Azau is 6 kilometers, from the station. “Shelter-11” is about 10 kilometers, it all depends on which route option you choose.

The Elbrus-Azau slopes are divided into routes of varying difficulty:
  • "Green Route" for beginners, it is considered the easiest section. Equipped with a rope tow lift.
  • "Blue Route" is more complex than the “green” one, but also easier than the “red” one.
  • "Red Route"- This difficult area, suitable for people with special riding skills.
  • "Black Route"- the most difficult to pass and requires not only special training, but also special equipment.

As at any ski resort, on the slopes of the 1st and 2nd stages there are recreational facilities - cafes, canteens, cheburek shops for snacks, tea houses. There are equipment rental points, medical centers, and toilets.

There are also small hotels on Elbrus; climbers call them shelters. Mostly groups that are about to climb Elbrus stop here. The "shelters" are equipped with bedrooms, a dining room, water, gas, and electricity.

Characteristics of the cable cars of the Elbrus-Azau Group of Companies

Ski resort"Elbrus-Azau" includes four lines of cable cars. Let's look at them in detail.

First zone

Glade "Azau" (2 thousand 350 m) / "Old Krugozor" (3 thousand 000 m); There are 2 cable cars on this section:

  • pendulum road (MCD) - "Elbrus-1"
  • gondola road (GKD) - "POMA-1"

Description. The track is mixed - "red" with a transition to "blue". The “red” route is characterized by steep slopes and small width, while the “blue” route is flat and sweeping.

  • Capacity of MKD "Elbrus1" = 100 people/hour (ascent takes 12 minutes) cabins for 20 people.
  • Capacity of the GKD "POMA-1" = 2,400 people/hour (lifting takes 5 minutes) cabins for 8 people.
Second zone

"Old Krugozor" (3 thousand 000 m) / "Mir" (3 thousand 500 m); There are 2 cable cars on this section:

  • pendulum road (MCD) - "Elbrus-2"
  • gondola road (GKD) - "POMA-2"

Description. The track is mixed - “black” with a transition to “blue”. The “black” trail is characterized by high steep slopes and turns, while the “blue” trail is flat and sweeping, which makes skiing much easier towards the end of the trail.

  • Capacity of MKD "Elbrus2" = 100 people/hour (ascent takes 12 minutes) cabins for 20 people.
  • Capacity of the GKD “POMA-2” = 2,400 people/hour (lifting takes 5 minutes) cabins for 8 people.
Third zone

"Mir" (3 thousand 500 m) / "Gara-Bashi" ("Bochki" shelter) (3 thousand 780 m); There are 1 cable cars on this section:

  • OKD - 1 chairlift - does not operate regularly (alternative lift by snowcat)

Description. The “blue” route with drops is more gentle and sweeping up to the “Bochki” shelter, but at the same time steep. After the shelter, the route is narrower and much steeper than the previous section.

  • Capacity of 1 chairlift = 130 people/hour (ascent takes 12 minutes).
Fourth zone

“Gara-Bashi” (“Bochki” shelter) (3 thousand 780 m) / “Shelter-11” (4 thousand 100 m); There are no cable cars in this section; it is possible to climb to the 4,100m mark by snowcats or on foot.

Description. The track is mixed “red” and sometimes “black” extreme.

Historical summary of the formation of the Elbrus-Azau Group of Companies

The history of the creation of the Elbrus-Azau Group of Companies began back in 1969. It was during this period that the first stage of the CCD was built and put into operation. This was a real breakthrough in the development of ski resorts. The first "Azau" is located at an altitude of 2200 m above sea level, the second station "Krugozor" is located at a level of 3,000 m.

Place of creation of the ski building - entertainment complex was not chosen by chance - Elbrus is the most majestic mountain Europe and Russia. The peak of the mountain is mostly covered with snow all year round and covered under ice; this is an excellent opportunity to conquer the slopes of Elbrus at any time of the year.

The height of Elbrus is 5642 meters above sea level. But guests of the ski resort can only go up to the level of 3 thousand 780 meters, called Gara-Bashi.

The beginning of the Elbrus-Azau Group of Companies is the Azau village. There are 2 boarding stations of the CD: a pendulum (car) and gondolas (booths). MKD and GKD operate in parallel and each road has 2 lines. The third line does not operate regularly and is single-seat.

Those who want to climb even higher, to the Priyut-11 station at an altitude of 4,100 m, can travel up on snowcats. The journey takes about 20 minutes.

In the Elbrus region, ski areas are concentrated directly on Elbrus and on the slopes of Mount Cheget, located not far from Elbrus and famous for its extreme slopes, some of the most difficult in the world. The distance between ski areas is 4 km. 12 km of cable cars have been built in the Elbrus region, incl. a recently built gondola lift that can accommodate up to 500 people at a time.

Mountain Elbrus - cable cars and the Elbrus-Azau route

Mount Elbrus is the highest point in Russia and Europe - these are two peaks extinct volcano. Eastern - 5621 meters above sea level, Western - 5642 meters. Skiing on certain sections of the slopes is possible all year round. The highest and most accessible point for skiing is “Shelter 11” - 4200 meters. Shelter 11 can be reached from the Mir station by snowcat. There are sections of the route accessible to beginner skiers. For beginner skiers, there is a 300-meter-long rope rope at the run-out of the slope. The total length of the trails is more than 35 km.


Cable cars of the Elbrus-Azau complex

First stage: Azau - Krugozor

The Elbrus-Azau ski complex originates in the Azau clearing, located at the foot of Elbrus. There are catering facilities, a ski equipment rental station, and coffee and tea vending machines. There are two cable car stations in the Azau clearing:

  • old pendulum;
  • new gondola road.

Both cable cars run parallel to each other. Currently, there are 2 stages at each cable car, the 3rd stage is under construction. On the 3rd stage there is also a single-chair cable car, which, however, does not always work. From the 2nd stage (Mir station) above, everyone climbs on snowcats; the ascent time to “Shelter-11” is approximately 20 minutes.

  • Pendulum cableway "Elbrus 1"(2350-3000 m) departs from the Azau station and reaches the Stary Krugozor station. There are cafes and kebab shops at both stations. Travel time on the old pendulum road is 15 minutes.
  • New cable car "Elbrus" gondola type was opened in December 2006. It connects the lower return station in the Azau clearing with the upper drive station"Old Krugozor" and installed parallel to the existing pendulum cable car. This is the latest model of a gondola-type aerial cable car with detachable gondolas. The capacity of one gondola is 8 people. 58 gondolas operate simultaneously. The length of the route is 1740 m, the drop in road is 580 m. The travel time of the new gondola road is 5 minutes, average speed- 6 m/s. The capacity of the cable car is up to 2,400 people per hour.

Second stage: Krugozor - World

On this line there is an old pendulum cable car "Elbrus-2" and a new cable car "Elbrus" gondola type.

  • Pendulum cableway "Elbrus - 2" (3000 - 3500 m) starts from the Stary Krugozor station and goes to the Mir station. The length of the road is 1500 m. On the territory of the station there is a cozy cafe “Mir” and the Museum of the military glory of the defenders of Elbrus and the Caucasian passes during the Great Patriotic War.
  • New gondola-type cable car "Elbrus" (3000 - 5000 m) was opened in April 2009. It is the latest model of aerial cable car with 8-seater gondolas produced by the French company ROMA - one of the world leaders in the field of cable cars. transport systems. The road connects two ski stations: “Old Krugozor” and “World”. The length of the road is 1800 m, the capacity is 2400 people/hour. Travel time in one direction is 5 minutes 13 seconds.

Third stage: Mir - Gara-Bashi

The Elbrus chairlift operates on the 3rd stage.

  • Chairlift "Elbrus" (3500 - 3850 m) starts from the Mir station and goes to the Gara-Bashi station. The single chair lift is quite old and does not work stably. From here, from an altitude of 3800 m, certified route No. 1 begins to the Azau clearing 2300 m.

Higher up, the Priyut 11 station (4200 m) can be reached by snowcats. All snowcats are private, so their prices fluctuate. Approximately, a distance of 18 km can be covered for 1000 rubles.


QueuesType of roadHeight difference (m)Throughput, people. / hourTravel time (min)Track length (m)
Yoke in the Azau clearing 2300 m-2500 m Yoke VL-400, “Mops” of the paddling pool in Azau 200 - 5 500
1st stage
Azau (2350m)-Stary Krugozor (3000m)		 Pendulum cableway "Elbrus-1"
(20-seat cabins)		 650 100 people/hour 12 1740
Gondola cable car “POMA-1”
(8-seater gondolas)		 580 2400 people/hour 5
2nd stage
Stary Krugozor (3000m) - Mir (3500m)		 Pendulum cableway "Elbrus-2"
(20-seat cabins)		 500 100 people/hour 12 1500
Gondola cable car “POMA-2”
(8-seater gondolas)		 514 2400 people/hour 5 1800
3rd stage
Mir (3500m)-Gara-Bashi (3780m)		 Chairlift "Elbrus", 1-seater 250 130 people/hour,
on repair		 12 1500
Gondola cable car 374 under construction 5


Characteristics of the routes of the Elbrus-Azau complex

Red route "Old Horizon"

The route is located between the Mir and Stary Krugozor stations of the Elbrus cable car. There are two options for the descent, one of which merges with the Azau highway, and the other, parallel to the cable car, runs along a wide flat section to the Elephant Foreheads and then along a narrow cornice 4 meters wide to the Stary Kruzor station. The maximum width of the route is 90 m, the height difference is 500 m. The length of the descent is 1900 m. The average slope of the route is 25. Difficult terrain, rocky soil made of volcanic rocks, glacial base of the route.

Red route "Azau"

A gentle descent to the “Olga turn”, then a steep one - along a 50 m long chute with a slope of 35, at the end of the section the route turns left and along the cornice, past high mountain hotel, goes in a smooth arc to the left and goes out onto the straight finishing section under the cable car. Care must be taken here, as it is possible to collide with skiers starting from top station drag ropeway VL-350. The length of the route is 2 km, the elevation difference is 650 m. The inclination angle is 50.

Blue track "Gara-Bashi"

The route is located between the Gara-Bashi and Mir stations of the Elbrus cable car and has access to the site from which the Old Horizon route begins. The maximum width of the route is 80 m, and the height difference is 300 m. The length is 1100 m with a maximum slope of 50. The slope relief is complex, the soil is rocky and rocky from volcanic rocks, basalt rocks. It is served by the Elbrus cable car with a length of 1130 m at a speed of 1.75 m/s. Having risen another 20 m from the highest station, you can get to the climbers’ training camp for climbing “Bochka”. Shelter 11 (4200 m) and Pastukhov Rocks (4800 m) can be reached by snowcat. True heroes reach the Col (5300 m) as a result of natural selection.

Training slope "Azau" (green track)

The route is located to the right of the ropeway VL-350 along a gentle chute. The route, 300 m long and with a height difference of 50 m, starts at an altitude of 2400 m above sea level. The average tilt angle is 15. The terrain is average, grassy cover on volcanic rocks, on the right side the route borders with a birch forest. The lift is a BKD VL-350 with a length of 300 m with a height difference of 50 m. A helicopter stands at the foot of Elbrus every day. It is also possible to fly to Dombay, ski there and return back. There is no lighting; a large amount of precipitation in the Elbrus region guarantees deep snow cover throughout the ski season. There is a well-equipped rescue service. Most dangerous places on the route - stones, rocks, buildings are fenced with a catching net.


Mount Cheget: cable cars and trails

It was on Cheget (2100 - 3050 m) that the country's first cable car was built in 1963. The height of Mount Cheget is 3700 meters. Maximum height ascent - 3050 meters. The difference in skiing heights is 1140 meters. Cheget's slopes are considered one of the most difficult in the world's ski resorts. In Russia, Cheget serves as a standard for the difficulty of trails. On Mount Cheget there are 2 stages of the “Cheget” chairlift, a stage of the “Parnaya” double chairlift and a network of rope towing roads. The total length of the ski lifts is 4300 meters, the total length of the ski slopes is 20 km, and if we take into account the possibility of virgin skiing, the total ski area will be about 100 km. Mount Cheget is located 1 km from the village of Terskol and 4 km from the Elbrus cable car complex.


First stage (2100-2750)

  • Cable car "Cheget-1" departs from the lower station of Polyana Cheget and continues to the cafe station “Ai” (2750 m). Cafe station "Ai" has observation deck, offering magnificent views of the mountains. Height difference - 650 m.
  • Chairlift "Parnaya" duplicates the KKD "Cheget-1" and also goes from the lower station of the Cheget glade and reaches the station of the cafe "Ai".

Second stage (2750-3000)

  • Cable car "Cheget-2" departs from the cafe "Ai" and goes to the Cheget station. On the way, a picture opens up: on the right are the snow-white caps of Elbrus, on the left are the peaks of Donguzorun, Kogutai and Nakra sparkling with eternal snow.

Towing roads

  • towing road VL-650- (2750 m - 3000 m) with a length of 650 meters, travel time 5 minutes;
  • towing road VL-300- (3000 m - 3070 m) with a length of 300 meters, travel time 3 minutes.

Mount Elbrus is the most high point Europe, and the Elbrus region has always attracted many tourists. But the Elbrus region is especially attractive for skiers. Some mountain slopes are covered with snow all year round, which makes it possible to keep the ski season open. In addition to skiing, tourists will find a lot here interesting entertainment. The most popular slopes of the Elbrus region are Elbrus (Azau) and Cheget. Both resorts are located near the village of Terskol in Kabardino-Balkaria.

Slopes and stations of Elbrus

Since then, the popularity of Cheget has not decreased not only in the country, but also in the world, although its tracks are still considered one of the most difficult tracks in the world. The routes to Azau are much simpler and more comfortable.

However, the lifts here are still the same - old Soviet ones, in other words, slow, inconvenient and unreliable. If you need comfort and smooth slopes, Cheget is not for you. Snow groomers do not touch these slopes; here you are alone with the natural relief of the Elbrus region.

Cheget is a Mecca for experienced riders. Many people dream of experiencing its untouched virgin lands, rugged slopes, slopes from 20 to 45 degrees.

The highest point of the trails is 3050 meters, with a mountain height of 3700 meters. The lower station is located at an altitude of 2100 m. The total length of the tracks is 20 km. Ski season lasts from November to May.

Cheget trails and cable cars

The Cheget trails are beautiful and dangerous. Only experienced skiers can ski here. If you go away from the ski lifts, you can only ride in a group, with a full set of avalanche equipment. Avalanches often occur here, especially on the northern slopes. The southern slopes are more gentle and even. Often the trails are closed due to high temperatures. The mountain rescue service is constantly on duty.

The famous Cheget hillocks deserve special attention, skiing on them develops ski control and a sense of balance. The mounds are located in the second stage, incl. under the cable car.

There are 11 trails on Cheget, they vary in difficulty. Snow groomers pass through them very rarely. Let's explore the resort's trails and start from the top of Cheget:

Section 3070 meters – Station “Cheget-3” (3000 m)

At the top of Cheget the most light green route, height 3000-3070 meters. Its length is only 300 meters. This is a good place for beginners to ride to hone their skills. You can climb to the top using the “Mop” type. From the top the majestic Elbrus opens in all its glory.

Section “Cheget-3” (3000 m) – “Cheget-2” (2750 m).

More complex routes of red and of blue color. The site is served by a single-chair cable car. Next to the lower station of this section is the famous cafe “Ay”, where Yuri Vzibor liked to stay and the filming of the film “Breakfast with a View of Elbrus” took place. Observation deck The cafe offers a beautiful view of the double-headed peak of Elbrus, the Donguzorun, Nakra and Kogutai mountains.

Section “Cheget-2” (2750m) – Polyana Cheget (2100m)

This route is also quite steep, but is marked blue. In the Cheget clearing, life is in full swing; there are many cafes, restaurants, and shops. The area is served by single-chair and double-chair cable cars. Let us note once again that these are old and worn-out lifts that break down quite often.

The northern slopes of Cheget are more suitable for lovers of extreme sports. The most famous slope was popularly called “Dollar” for its curves; this is a real test even for an experienced skier. The southern slope is flatter and wider - for lovers of measured driving and snowboarders, but it also has difficult terrain.

Prices for Cheget ski lifts

The cost of a daily subscription is 800 rubles. Excursion lift – 500 rubles per time. There are no multi-day ski passes.

How to get to Cheget

  1. By plane to Mineralnye Vody or Nalchik, then transfer to regular bus to Terskol.
  2. By train to Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Pyatigorsk or Prokhladny, after transferring to a regular bus or taxi to Terskol.
  3. Order a group taxi from Mineralnye Vody, Prokhladny, Nalchik.

Accommodation

You can explore the slopes of Cheget for more than one day, so the best option will rent a room at a local hotel. There are a lot of them in Cheget. You can stay in the hotel of the same name at the foot of the mountain, or you can rent a room in Terskol. But the hotels in the Cheget clearing are more attractive for tourists, because the ski lifts are no more than 5 minutes’ walk away.

Our advice: Before you step onto the Cheget trails for the first time, carefully study the slopes and trail maps; the trails are not marked, but you can determine on the ground which zone you are in. It is better to start riding with an instructor, guide or in a group, because... There is a great danger of getting lost here. It is better not to leave the rolled out places. There is a high risk of injury in Cheget, so follow the safety rules.

If you have ever visited the Elbrus region, have no doubt - you will want to return there again and again. And every time it will be full of impressions and emotions.