July 16 - Off the Mountain

Another morning of waking up in the hut to coffee and bacon. After returning from the summit yesterday afternoon we ate some soup and fell into our sleeping bags dead tired! We all slept soundly through the night. After breakfast of rice and bacon and mashed potatoes we quickly packed up our gear and left Elbrus. Thirty minutes of hiking followed by two chairlift rides we were back where we started from just three days ago. The team decided to celebrate right away at a small outdoor cafe. We all ordered salad (tomatoes and cucumbers), shashlik (like shishkabobs) and beer. It felt wonderful resting in the warm sun! Later in the afternoon we were invited to the sauna at our hotel. According to tradition the sauna must be HOT, the plunge pool FREEZING cold and an area set aside to rest and have a drink of water or tea or beer. Three times through this circuit and you've done well! On my third turn one of or guides, Sasha, had me lie down on the top bench of the sauna so she could flog me with two wet bunches of wet oak leaves! It felt the best on my tired feet and legs! We have to unpack our wet stinky gear but neither one of us has the energy to do it today.