Приэльбрусье
Prielbrusie – a delightful corner in Kabardino-Balkaria, which attracts the attention of connoisseurs of amazing landscapes, and amateur climbers, and professional mountaineers, and professional athletes-skiers, and supporters of active and healthy lifestyles, and parents with young children, and people who want to relax with family or friends from the endless routine. Prielbrusie can be compared to Eldorado, where everyone is sure to find his or her own treasure. But unlike the mythical South American country rich in precious stones and gold, the resort area located in the central Caucasus is famous not for illusory but real treasures: healing atmosphere of the mountains, fresh and invigorating climate, magnificent natural sights, excellent mountain trails, actively developing tourist infrastructure and powerful energy. One wants to come back here again and again, because the beauty of mountain nature causes a powerful surge of endorphins and helps to forget about monotonous everyday life.
Video: Prielbrusie
Contents- General information
- Areas of Elbrusie
- Main skiing areas
Sights of Prielbrusie - Where to stay
- How to get there
General Information
Prielbrusie is a popular center of tourism, mountaineering and skiing, the common name for a part of the greater Caucasus, which is located on the territory of the Zolsky and Elbrus districts of Kabardino-Balkaria in the Baksan Gorge. Prielbrusie is both a resort balneoclimatic area in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic in the North Caucasus region (central Caucasus), and the surrounding area at the foot of two mountains, Elbrus and Cheget, and located at an altitude of 1850-2340 meters in the upper reaches of the Baksan River area 144 kilometers from the southern resort city of Nalchik.
.Sometimes you can meet such terms as Western or Karachay-Cherkess Prielbrusie. This part of the territories refers to the adjacent areas of the western slopes of Mount Elbrus located in Karachay-Cherkessia. In Kabardino-Balkaria it is the only gorge with a convenient asphalted highway, which rises to a height of 2340 meters above sea level.
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Areas of Elbrus
Prielbrusie is a full-fledged ski resort that includes several settlements (Chaget Glade, Azau Glade, Elbrus, Baidayevo, Tegenekli and Terskol) and two main skiing areas (Cheget and Elbrus-Azau).
.Cheget Glade
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Azau Glade – is not only the highest inhabited point of the entire resort area (its height is equal to 2300 meters), but also the main resting place for advanced tourists, the center of attraction for people who have anything to do with sports. Here also begin the cable cars “Elbrus Azau” and gondola-type road Puma.
.Azau Glade is famous and its well-developed infrastructure for every taste and purse: here travelers are waiting for comfortable tourist bases and hotels, equipment rentals, kebab shops. You will definitely not be bored!
.Elbrus
To the left of Elbrus village there is one of the most beautiful and popular gorge in the whole Elbrus region. This is the Adyl-Su gorge, near which there are several mountaineering bases. And also from this village begins the lush pine forest of Baksan, the aroma of which gives lightness, energy and vigor.
.Since Elbrus is relatively far from the slopes, and the infrastructure there is not as well developed as in other settlements, many tourists prefer to bypass it. And for nothing, because located to the exit towards the mountains, local hotels and sanatoriums – one of the most cozy and comfortable in the entire Elbrus.
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Baidayevo
Baidayevo is a small aul on the left bank of the Baksan River. It is located behind the village of Terskol and beyond the turn to Cheget. In the village of Baidayevo, which is the ancestral settlement of the Baidayev family, not more than 70 people live permanently, so there is a quiet, calm and peaceful atmosphere.
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Since Baidayevo is not avalanche-prone area, here you can feel one hundred percent safe. Most often families with small children prefer to stay here. Prices for accommodation in Baidayevo are lower than in other settlements of the Elbrus region. The distance from the village of Baidayevo to the Cheget glade – 4 km, and to the Azau glade – 8 km.
.Tegenekli
But it’s worth noting that many of the local slopes are wild sections of mountains full of precipices and bumps. In no case should not forget about safety rules and always need to adequately assess their level, as no season is not without injured skiers, who instead of bright and unforgettable emotions get health problems.
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Cheget Mountain
It is possible to ascend to the altitude by means of several chairlifts, both single chairlifts and pairs. The ascent consists of two turns: the length of the first turn – 1600 meters, the length of the second turn – 900 meters. The maximum height of ascent on the ropeway is 3050 meters. The height difference on the first turn of the cable car is 650 meters, and on the second turn – 900 meters.
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Snowboarders on this mountain peak may be interested in several places: the “Dollar” line on the northern slope and the southern slopes.
.Эльбрус-Азау
Elbrus is the main mountain peak of the Elbrus region. It is the highest peak not only of the Caucasus and Russia, but also of all Europe. Its height is 5642 meters. The highest and the most accessible point for skiers is Gara-Bashi, the height of which is 3780 meters above sea level. The skiing area, despite its heights, is suitable for beginner skiers, and “average skiers”, and conquered more than one mountain peak professionals.
.For the first at the foot of Elbrus is equipped to serve the gentle slope rope tow, the second and third should pay attention to the two elevator stations: the new gondola and “old” pendulum road. The start of both roads, which run parallel to each other, starts from the Azau glade. From the second line (station “Mir”) everyone can go up to “Shelter-11” on tractors. The road takes about 18-25 minutes.
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The most daring ratrak can take you above the “Shelter of Eleven”, to an altitude of about 4800 meters above sea level. Why climb so high? Because it is at this altitude that the year-round alpine skiing area is located. This is a true paradise for those people who dream to cut the snow of Prielbrusie not only in winter, but also in summer.
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Elbrus has something to offer to boarders, because they will definitely like the snow-rich terrain fields under the second stage of the pendulum (from the station “Mir”). Fans of backcountry and freeride should join guides in groups, although they can ski alone as well.
.Climate and weather
The ski season in Prielbrusie lasts from October to May. Elbrus is famous for its mild temperate continental climate, increased solar radiation, atmospheric pressure lowered to 590 mm, healing mountain air, mountain-valley winds with an average speed of 2 m/s and 1849 hours of sunshine per year. It is almost always clear and sunny here: in some valleys there are more than 300 sunny days a year! The average relative humidity is 67%.
.With altitude, the intensity of solar radiation, including ultraviolet radiation, increases significantly, while the weight content of oxygen decreases. It is always worth remembering this during mountain climbing excursions to avoid hypoxia (oxygen deficiency), sunburns and overheating.Winter in Prielbrusie is moderately mild and sunny. The average January temperature is -6° C. Spring is characterized by significant fluctuations in temperatures, cloudy weather, private but brief precipitation.
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The weather in early summer is frustrating for travelers with its instability. In June in the Elbrus Mountains in the high mountains there is still a lot of snow, it often rains, which complicates both wade crossings and the routes of tourist routes. Without preparation and experience earlier than July and later than September to go traveling on mountain routes is strongly not recommended.
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In general, summer in the region is quite cool, often there is cloudy and rainy weather. The average temperature in Prielbrusie in July reaches +15° C. Autumn is foggy and dry, with cloudy weather prevailing during this time period.
.Sights of Prielbrusie
Mountains are the main attractions of Prielbrusie. They cause wild delight and give the opportunity to feel part of the majestic nature on an instinctive level. It is very difficult to tear your eyes off them and organize some cultural program for yourself.
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That is why in Elbrus almost all excursions are of natural character and are devoted to non-man-made sights. Museums are only a pleasant addition to the rest in the mountains.
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Vladimir Vysotsky Mountaineering and Hunting Museum
We have already mentioned the Vladimir Vysotsky Mountaineering and Hunting Museum, the most popular place in Tegenekli. Although the exposition of this museum is not characterized by a large number of exhibits, it attracts attention with its sincerity and soulfulness. Here are collected memorabilia, hunting trophies and photos of famous people for whom Elbrus has become a second home and a place of strength.
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The museum was founded by Hussein Zalikhanov – who headed the All-Union base of recreation, tourism and mountaineering in Elbrus, honorary resident of Kabardino-Balkaria, honored coach of the USSR and RSFSR in mountaineering, professor of hunting science.
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The museum got its name not by chance. In one of the songs, which in the movie “Vertical” (1967) sang Vladimir Semyonovich, it is about the place, 30 years later became a museum in his honor. By the way, in 1966, Hussein Zalikhanov advised the film crew and helped its members to understand the intricacies of mountaineering.
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Visiting the museum, you can learn a lot of useful information about the first conquerors of Elbrus, and about the high-mountain front of World War II, on which in 1943 Soviet climbers fought the Nazi division “Edelweiss”, and about the flora and fauna of the Elbrus region, and about the friendship between Vladimir Vysotsky and Russian artist Mikhail Shemyakin.
.Museum of the Defense of the Elbrus Mountains
Where to stay
Although there are a huge number of different tourist bases, hotels and sanatoriums in Elbrus, but if you have not thought about booking in advance, then in the season you can be left without accommodation. Despite the prices, rooms in the best hotels, and in those that are located closest to the elevators, are sold out very quickly.
.Searching for a hotel should start with choosing a neighborhood. The most expensive areas – Cheget glade and Azau glade. Here mostly stay those skiers who want to be as close as possible to the slopes and who are not sorry to pay for this pleasure an order of magnitude more money. The high season in Cheget lasts from mid-January to the end of March, during this period prices for accommodation are the most “biting.”
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Elbrus and Terskol prefer families with children, elderly couples and people who dream of a relatively quiet vacation. In these villages, the infrastructure is well developed, there are excellent sanatoriums, which provide a lot of additional services. On Elbrus, the high season starts in October and lasts until the end of May.
.If you want to live in a cozy place for relatively little money, then it is worth paying attention to the villages of Tegenekli and Baidayevo. Here prices for housing are lower than in other settlements of Elbrus, but you have to spend 15-20 minutes every day to get to the slopes by car or transfer bus.
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The most economical way to stay in Prielbrusie is to rent accommodation from a private person. The most options for such accommodation can be found in Terskol and Baidayevo, but you should not count on pleasant hotel bonuses in the form of rental shops, ski storage and space for drying things.
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