Intourist Hotel Stavropol

We stayed in Zheleznovodsk in the last week of April. The teams of regions live in 3 hotels, but all solemn actions were in Palace of Culture(old soviet cinema).In this olympiad took part 226 pupils from 66 regions of Russia Federation. The olympiade consist from 2 different parts: Theory and Practice. Theory ...

... I looked in confusion - to which he said "goodbye" coldly. Mind you, this was before I had bought my train ticket, for which I needed Eugene to translate. On my way out I nervously told Eugene I'd wait outside for him. I stood on the side of this building trying to keep a low profile. Another officer walked up pointed to my bad and saying something in Russian. I just looked at him blankly and he walked away. After a few minutes, to my absolute relief, Eugene came out and said ...

... a few mintues Eugene waved his poles and turned back down the mountain. Stephan (who doesn't speak English) and I kept climbing slowly. The day before when I saw people at this point on the mountain (like little dots) it looked like a gentle slope. My eyes had decieved me - it was very steep, curving slowing to the left - what likely made it appear gentle from a distance. I doubted if we'd make it to the summit - this experience was one of the most mentally and physically ...

... We have decided that the weather tomorrow is the only favorable kind for the next few days for a summit attempt - to so tomorrow it will be. But it takes a long time, so we must leave at 12am to make it there and back in the window of good weather (today we hiked for 6 hours and only made it to 4800m - still over 800m to go, and perhaps some of the most difficult). Better pack and get ready for some sleep. Hopefully my next entry is a sucessful summit.

... and was checking myself to be sure I didn't push it too hard early (as everyone knows this is my common mistake as a former sprinter). I led most of the climb - forging the footpath for others to follow. We only took a few long breaks together, slowly drifting apart and taking only 20 sec breaks later to catch our breath. While the whole hike was a challeng, the last 300m were especially difficult - at an angle of ascent probably 60 degrees, but it ...

... clouds in the mountains and it rained last night. ------ 23:26 (later) I meant to right that when I was arriving yesterday by car we drove through a few various villages on the way. I hadn't pulled out my camera by that time, so I missed some good picture ops of the most exquisite of rural Russian life. Kids on bikes and riding pony's with old wooden carts attached. Old men sitting (as well as whole families) together on long wooden benches facing the highway. (This seems very ...

... water (which seems to be popular everywhere in the world but the U.S.). At Tyrskol we moved into our temporary flat (1-2 days)and went though an equipment check - here are the things I must rent because I don't have or mine aren't satisfactory: -climbing boots -crampons -pic axe -gators -headlamp -trekking poles -thermos I also got some Russian dark chocolate("shakaLATy") to snack on and a bottle of water for my Nalgene ...