14ers.com

Agree with all of the comments thus far. It gets cold. I had double plastics, was happy to have them, and weather turned us around long before we got near the top. If you're doing the North side, you can use hiking boots and some spikes (probably not necessary that time of year) to go from the base camp area in the meadows to camp at 12,200'ish. Saves some potential wear and tear on your feet from hiking in double plastics, plus it can be very, very warm down that low. I personally wouldn't go back with anything less warm for the higher climbing than Baruntses, or equivalent. No way I'd take Nepals, for example

Beautiful place. Russia was cool. Spend some time in St. Petersburg if you can while you're there... amazing city.

Edit: Forgot to mention, another option may be to rent from Whittaker Mountaineering. They're associated with RMI Guides and do rentals for their international programs. Assuming you're not going with RMI, I have to imagine business is slow and if you called them, they might work something out to deploy some rental gear. You ship it back and forth, so you don't have to be near Seattle to rent from them. Possibly a nice compromise between cost effectiveness and ensuring you're getting appropriate gear.

https://www.whittakermountaineering.com ... ernational

Klad24 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 04, 2020 8:26 am Don't mean to steer the conversation away from boots, but I'm curious what your plan is as far as getting into Russia (assuming you don't have Russian citizenship). I was briefly considering doing Elbrus this summer as well but from what I can tell it seems like it can be a real hassle just to get into the country right now.

Hoping it opens back up before our trip. Putin seems determined, so i think theres a good chance

Scott P wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2020 12:05 am PS Trotter, what size sho do you wear?

12 usually. Let me know if yall see a smoking deal on boots

Thanks all for the replies. Im hoping they have good rentals at elbrus base, if nothing else so I dont have to haul them all over europe, as we are playing tourist on way there and back. Does anybody remember how many gear rental places that are there? Im hoping to check out multiple stores, and find one with decent quality to rent.

Having never worn plastic doubles before, are they really that awful? I like the idea of sleeping with the liners. But it sounds like doubles are heavy. Is that the main drawback?

Plus the guide service we using charges like 7 bucks a day to rent them. I looked at renting a good pair here in the states, and its very expensive plus i still have to haul them all over.

What guide service are you using? Pilgrim had some gear rental stuff at the lodge that some in our group used for jackets/axes and I remember there being one ok rental shop in Terksol village that a guy used for boots.

[quote=Trotter post_id=710994 time=1591394560 user_id=35401
Having never worn plastic doubles before, are they really that awful? I like the idea of sleeping with the liners. But it sounds like doubles are heavy. Is that the main drawback?
[/quote]

Heavy and quite clunky on dry ground. Once you get on the snow it's less difference in walkability.

I did Rainier my first time in rented Invernos, and the descent especially was pretty uncomfortable on the trail to paradise.
Only worn them one other time. Was ice climbing in new Hampshire and my Nepals were not cutting it (-10F) so I rented for the next day.
I remembered how I didn't like them that much to walk out climb in, but my toes loved it.

That all said, if I was going to Elbrus my personal choice would be to use a double boot for the insurance in case of weather or mishap.

They're not THAT bad. And it's not like long dry approaches are pleasant in any warm technical boot.

Trotter wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2020 3:56 pm

Scott P wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2020 12:05 am PS Trotter, what size sho do you wear?

12 usually. Let me know if yall see a smoking deal on boots

I have a pair of size 12 Asolo AFS plastic boots, never worn if you are interested. I bought them for my brother, but he doesn't stay in contact with the family and I haven't seen him in a few years. I have been saving them, but don't think he does outdoor stuff anymore.

CaptCO wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2020 9:14 pm Hijacking thread sort of.. if anyone wants a like new pair of Phantom 8000M I’ll sell them for dirt dirt cheap hmu (sz 42) hell I’ll even let someone borrow them I hate those f’n things

What don't you like about the Phantom 8000s?

I know this is a little off topic but we did a carryover from South to North and it was amazing! The two sides of the mountain could not be more different. I would highly recommend it. More involved from a logistics standpoint but worth it.

Did Elbrus In 2018 in G2s. As mentioned, they may have been a bit overkill, but I never worried about my feet or crampons the entire time.

Best of luck!

Trotter wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2020 3:55 pm

Klad24 wrote: ↑Thu Jun 04, 2020 8:26 am Don't mean to steer the conversation away from boots, but I'm curious what your plan is as far as getting into Russia (assuming you don't have Russian citizenship). I was briefly considering doing Elbrus this summer as well but from what I can tell it seems like it can be a real hassle just to get into the country right now.

Hoping it opens back up before our trip. Putin seems determined, so i think theres a good chance

Dang, I was hoping for travel in the Canadian Rockies this summer and theIr quarantine is at least until July 21. Canadian government travel website:

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/co ... s-eng.html

The worsening stats around the US is making us pariahs most everywhere outside the US.