Weekend Climbs in East Europe and Russia
MCS AlexClimbWhich programs in the European part of Russia can be considered short Thursday-Monday mountaineering trips, even given today's challenging travel conditions?
Mount Elbrus region, ascent of Andyrchi and Kurmychi, Russia (5 days, 4050 m)
Mount Bazarduzu, Dagestan, Russia (5 days, 4466 m)
Mount Yerydag, Dagestan, Russia (5 days, 3925 m)
Mount Kazbek, southern route, Georgia (5 days, 5033 m)
Mount Laila, Svaneti, Georgia (5 days, 4008 m)
Mount Toubkal, Morocco (5 days, 4167 m)
Aragats, Armenia (4 days, 4090 m)
Mont Blanc, France (4 days, 4807 m)
Breithorn, Switzerland/Italy (4 days, 4164 m)
Aneto Peak, Aragon, Spain (4 days, 3404 m)
Teide Volcano, Tenerife (3 days, 3,718 m)
How are the above listed programs compiled? - Based on their accessibility:
- Road infrastructure and tourist services are available as close as possible to the start of the route
- Altitudes up to 5,000 m are not critical – at this level, for the fast climbs acclimatization is not necessary (these programs themselves can serve as acclimatization blocks)
- Minimum of complicating formalities (passes, permits)
Why isn't Mount Elbrus on the list? Yes, this is my clear position – climbing a five-thousander without acclimatization is only possible under the most favorable conditions and with good physical fitness.
Mount Elbrus, despite its easy accessibility and convenient logistics, is a challenging and treacherous summit that requires serious preparation.
In a "flash" ascent, even if successful, this "achievement" may not be very beneficial for your health.
The Kazbek route is the only five-thousander route on my list that can be considered a "weekend summit" solely because it is significantly shorter and easier to endure than climbing Mount Elbrus.
In the modern world, time constraints are always limiting our possibilities —that is one of the most pressing challenges of modern life.
Nevertheless, in the crazy pace of life, it is necessary to periodically take a break, slow down, and, preferably without harming your health, escape from the "home-family-work" cycle.
Obviously, this should be done more than once a year. Any full-fledged mountaineering expedition, no matter how much desired, requires a significant investment of time—the snowy giants are reluctant to welcome their admirers.
Most serious climbs require complex logistics, preliminary acclimatization, time to cope with unforeseen complications.
Even the most dedicated mountain fanatics, if they are not professional mountaineers, can not afford such luxury more than once a year.
Unfortunately, after returning from climbing expedition, our physical and mental relief that comes with several weeks of recharging in the mountains is short-lived.
Fatigue and stress accumulate much faster than they dissipate, the physical fitness and acclimatization gained in the mountains disappear, leaving us unprotected agains the cruel reality.
But there is a solution. For those who value their time and quality of life, I have developed a set of mountaineering programs that do not require a significant amount of precious time.
My "Weekend climbs" are the perfect format for a quick reboot and recovery.
In my small selection, I've compiled mountain routes that can be completed over a long weekend of 4-5 days.
In other words, if you take a plane on Thursday evening and return home on Monday evening, most probably your work will still be there.
But the amount of impressions and health benefits will last for at least two or three months, just until the next short foray to the mountains. This could even hold out until that longed-for long expedition to the big mountains.
The logistics of "weekend programs" are designed without taking into account the political upheavals the world is currently immersed in – I hope they are not going to last forever.
But the mountains have always been and will always be in their place, beckoning people to their shining peaks, making them purer and better.
I'm sure that if politicians start doing mountaineering and went with me to the mountains every two months, the effect would be far more noticeable than the pompous fuss of all those red-headed peacekeepers.
Text and photographs by Alex Trubachev
International mountain guide, rock and ice climbing coach
MCS EDIT 2025