Lou Duval

Absolutely the most enjoyable and fun trekking and climbing experience I have ever had, an experience with Ian Taylor, our Head Guide, Victor, our Russian Guide, and Luba, our Russian Cook, that far exceeded my expectations. A little perspective: although I am an ex-US Marine and have worked to stay fit my entire life, I am a grandfather in my mid-seventies who began more serious hiking and trekking only after retirement four years ago. Although I summited Kilimanjaro in 2016, the Gran Paradiso in 2018, Mont Blanc de Tacul and Mont Blanc in 2019, I am a “beginner” at mountaineering. My struggles with the altitude and fatigue on Tacul and Mont Blanc earlier this summer left me extremely apprehensive about my plans to participate in Ian’s Elbrus Trek, so apprehensive that I came awfully close to backing out. As it turns out, I have never experienced a trekking and climbing trip as enjoyable and satisfying as Ian’s Elbrus Trek. First, the acclimatization hikes on the north side of Elbrus were superb, well-planned and highly effective. Although Elbrus is 3,000 feet higher than Mt. Blanc, I did not experience the altitude or fatigue problems I had in the French Alps. In addition, the hill country north of Elbrus in which we did our hike s is stunningly beautiful terrain, with waterfalls, great vistas in many directions, and a variety of very interesting trails. Second, Ian’s Elbrus Trek was consistently well-planned and well-organized. Luba, our Russian cook, was terrific, the meals ample and well-prepared. Our guides, Ian and Victor, were terrific, encouraging, consistently informative, and consistently equally engaged in the enjoyment of our shared experiences. Ian is very easy to talk to and, notwithstanding his experience, very unassuming. Victor was extraordinarily kind and attentive throughout our trek. Finally, our teammates on the Trek, could never have anticipated the amount of fun we would have together over a period of nearly two weeks. A very diverse crew, including two other grandfathers, and including three teammates from Barcelona and two teammates from Manchester, England. Absolutely blessed with such kind, humorous and positive teammates. And, almost forgot, we all summited Elbrus, a beautiful finale to a great trip!