An engineering student and a history graduate, successfully summited Mr Elbrus, the highest mountain in Europe earlier this year. Becoming friends through the Climbing and Mountaineering clubs at the University of Lincoln, Vlad Pepper and Kian Potter were inspired by famous climbers like Andy Kirkpatrick. The aim was to conquer its 5642-meter summit, with the intent of ascending without support or assistance from commercial guides while carrying all their own kit and food.
The ascent took six days, allowing time for acclimatization. The climbers faced tough conditions as they got used to the thinner air which made breathing difficult as well as an unexpected lightning storm which resulted in fatalities for another team also ascending the mountain. The final camp was situated at 4200m, allowing a generous distance for the remaining acclimatization hikes. The acclimatisation involved ascending to roughly the height of Mont Blanc twice.
The day of the summit push began with an opportunity for the team to practice winter ice skills including self-arrest, caves rescue and self-belay and learn from new additions to the group who lived on the mountain and gave the team useful insight into the conditions.
The team began the ascent to 5000m and were quickly faced with more challenges in the form of both fatigue from the sheer physical exertion and the effects of reduced oxygen which decreased to just 51% at the summit. Unfortunately, 200m from the summit Kian became too unwell to continue. Vlad continued alone, returning a to camp a few hours later, exhausted and fatigued but thrilled to add Mount Elbrus to his summits.
Kian and Vlad would like to thank the University of Lincoln Climbing Club and the University of Lincoln Mountaineering Club that allowed them to gain the skills needed to approach such a summit. With additional credit to The Lincoln Mountaineering Club, Sergey Osernuzki, Sharapey and the ‘Friends Café’