July 18 - Day Hike

I know, I know. Can't we ever rest?! Well I guess not. Our last day here and we have decided to go for a hike with our two guides, Igor and Sasha. We hire a van and head into a beautiful valley located in the border region between Russia and Georgia. Our permit from earlier in the week is still valid and the armed guards at the checkpoint let us through again. The weather continues to be marvelous. Sunny and warm with just a few clouds near the peaks. Our hike is easy and slow along a raging river. Glacier melt coming from up the valley. Wildflowers are blooming everywhere, some I recognize from home and many that I don't. After two hours we reach the end of the trail. There are four buildings here that scientists used for glacier study. We sit and eat a snack in one of them. Now we are back at the Seven Summits Club using their free Wi-Fi. Tonight we are going out to dinner at a restaurant where you can catch your own trout for dinner! We leave Terskol very early tomorrow morning (2:30a.m.) to catch a 7:30 a.m. flight to Moscow. We are looking forward to the next part of our Russian adventure!