RUSSIA

Mt. Elbrus and Mt. Cheget-RUSSIAN ROULETTE: ADVENTURES ON MOUNT ELBRUS-While the Mt. Blanc still has the name and the reputation, Mt. Elbrus, at 5600 meters, is the true roof of Europe. The lifts go up to 3800 meters, putting them also into the top 10 highest ski lifts in the world. Elbrus, however, is much more than just high. This dormant volcano, along with the neighboring ski resort of Mt. Cheget, a few miles down the road, are a free rider’s paradise, with miles and miles of good and steep off-piste terrain. These mountains could, however, be a skier’s nightmare as well, because the cliffs, crevasses, and frequent avalanches here make these two peaks exceedingly dangerous. These same features make the mountains very photogenic, and with the German born extreme snowboard champion of Russia to guide us, we were able to beat the odds in Russian roulette for our week-long visit.

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