Squeezed between the Black and Caspian Seas, the Caucasus chain is nearly 1500 km long and about 130km wide. The height of the Caucasus accounts for the range's considerable snow-cover and although there are many glaciers - crevasses can be a problem (particularly on Elbrus) they are generally smaller than those found in the Alps.

Elbrus is a massive two-headed extinct volcano, plastered in ice. Approximately 70 glaciers, large and small, cover the Elbrus massif with 145 sq km of ice, in places hundreds of metres thick.

Tom looking out towards Mount Elbrus Nick Jeffrey, Ben and Tom Clowes with Elbrus in the background The beginning of the Elbrus Ascent Tom wearing a traditional hat
Ben, Nick and Tom (self timer!) View from above the evening clouds on Elbrus We camped near this hut that burnt down Nick Jeffrey and Ben Clowes at our top camp
View towards the observatory Looking down at our tracks (not far from the summit) Tom carrying heavy load in the Andes - including our turd bags which really smelt! Ben and Nick - a cold dawn on Elbrus
Ben and Nick - a cold dawn on Elbrus Ben and Tom Clowes on the summit of Elbrus Tom on the summit of Elbrus - the roof of Eastern Europe Nick and Ben approaching the barrel huts