Mt. Elbrus

[jej]

Hello!

Can I use mobile phone on northern route
to Elbrus summit?


jej

[Olga]

You can not use mobile phone on the North route. Coverage exists only in Baksan valley. Huge spaces around have no coverage. The station is at about 3200 on mt Cheget and covers Elbrus slopes from South side up to the saddle, all other sides are without coverage. To the North there is no coverage until Kislovodsk, to the West until Dombay valley.
Look at the map of the region and find this big Baksan valley. You can use mobile phone only in this valley. Some places in Adyl-su valley have connection (until Djantugan camp, not higher). There is absolutely no connection in Adir-su valley and all other side valleys.

[Enrico]

And what about the possibility of using mobile phone on the Kupol route?
Thanks

Enrico

[xara]

Enrico, could you specify what you mean as a "Kupol route"?

Mobile phone broadcast antennas are in the Baksan valley only i.e. to the South. If you climb Elbrus from the South there is a direct sight and in many cases you can use your phone although connection is not good because of distance. If you do not see South valleys you do not have connection for sure.

[Enrico]

For Kupol route I mean the route that pass through the Azau glacier, then climb up toward the kiukiurtliu (Kupol) dome and finally get the Elbrus' summit passing on the NW ridge....

It's a route that mainly goes on ridges and I yhink it should be more or less all the time on sight of the Baksan valley.

Thank you
Enrico

[xara]

You mean the West shoulder route.
I have no real evidences but to my mind there is no mobile phone connection on that route even if there is a direct site. Very far for GSM connection and moreover the direction is not "popular". I mean broadcasting power is not same to all directions and that direction most likely has no or very poor support.