AC Caucasus Expedition
Three of us drove to Georgia in my Land Rover via ancient sites in Italy and Turkey to be met at the border town of Sarp(i) by Eliza, interpreter and escort to Tbilisi. Once there we were in the most capable hands of the Khergiani clan who provided any support asked for thereon in.
From Mestia in Svaneti three forays were mounted to: Ushba Glacier, Tetnuld and Shkara. Whether caused by the lateness of the season (September) or global warming, the mountains were unrecognisable from the descriptions of the last AC meet there in 1998. The Ushba Plateau was unattainable, denying us several suitable acclimatisation objectives accessible from there. AK 47s were practiced with some success. Tetnuld was denied by a heavy snowfall (and disappointing local support). A finale in the hills beneath Shkara above the world heritage village of Ushguli saw some tops climbed, additional to those made by the 1998 AC meet. On 20th September we declined an invitation from Henry Mushtakiani to join a meeting with Russian border officials on our way back past Mazeri, which was just as well as a fire-fight broke out during which two Russian officers were shot. The journey back across the Black Sea, Ukraine and Poland was also adventurous.
Henry Day
 
Ushba's Twin Summits photos: Margaret Graham Kate Ross in front of Shkara
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