Trip to Mount Kazbek

Autor znany redakcji

If you want to reach the summit of Mount Kazbek in Georgia (5054 m MSL) using the Gergeti Glacier route (which will take about 10 days to go and get back home), it is best to do so in June since the weather is stable and there is a lower risk of an avalanche. To do so, you should find about 2-3 friends who would be willing to hike with you. I would recommend having an experienced mountaineer in your squad, too. After you have that done, set a budget for yourselves and book a flight to Tbilisi, a bus to Kazbegi town, and accommodation (including in the Bethlemi hut on the mountain).

Afterwards, you have to pack the necessary equipment and prepare for the journey. I won’t list all the equipment you need because there are many necessary items, but you can find a lot of them on REI mountaineering checklist (which you can find here). Your team should practice rescue drills before you leave, and, just in case, you should also arrange travel insurance that covers high-altitude rescues. Your friends should know the exact dates of the flight and bus and the place you are planning to get to by the end of each day of hiking. You should also give each person a role to fulfil. There should be a team leader, a navigator who keeps the team on route, a person who provides medical care and manages the first aid kit, and a person who checks if everyone’s gear is in good condition and sets up camps. I would also recommend making a plan for what you’ll do each day.

Once you have prepared everything, it’s time to go hiking. As I’ve already mentioned, the whole two-way journey should take you about 10 days. First, you’ll travel to Tbilisi, and later take a bus to Kazbegi town. Afterwards, you have to trek to the Bethlemi Hut. On day 5, you should be able to climb Mount Kazbek. By day 8, you are going to be back in the capital of Georgia. Finally, on day 9, you should fly back to Warsaw.

Now, after you’ve returned, it’s time for the last step in the project. It’s the time to unpack everything, wash the clothes used during the trip, and clean the mountaineering equipment. It would be good to analyse if you’ve learned anything and what could be improved for the next trip. At last, you can print the pictures taken throughout the journey.

The trip doesn’t just give you memories; it can also sharpen your cooperation, decision-making, and persistence skills.