![RUSSIA - MOUNT ELBRUS - VOVA ON THE SUMMIT [3032 RU] This is Vladimir, or Vova for short, my Russian guide. His English no so good but his character and humor excellent. We trekked a little beforehand with Jenna, our cook, who spoke no English but lots of Russian with Vova. Then we ran into the Danes who spoke better English than I do. Not only did Vova guide me to the summit of Elbrus, he also provided enough vodka for the entire hut (including the Danes in the previous photo) to celebrate.](../imgThmb/3032_RU_MV.jpg)
![RUSSIA - MOUNT ELBRUS [3038 RU]](../imgThmb/3038_RU_M.jpg)
![RUSSIA - MOUNT ELBRUS [3092 RU]](../imgThmb/3092_RU_M.jpg)
![RUSSIA - MOUNT ELBRUS [3033 RU] The descent](../imgThmb/3033_RU_M.jpg)
![RUSSIA - MOUNT ELBRUS [3036 RU]](../imgThmb/3036_RU_MV.jpg)
![SWITZERLAND [SW3130] Warming up on Breithorn](../imgThmb/3130_SZA.jpg)
![SWITZERLAND [SW1675] On the summit of Dufourspitze, the highest mountain in Switzerland](../imgThmb/SW1675.jpg)
![SWITZERLAND - THE MATTERHORN [3020 SZ] It looks okay from here but we were advised not to attempt the Matterhorn due to conditions up top.](../imgThmb/3020_SZ_M.jpg)
![TANZANIA - KILIMANJARO [3060 TZ] Mount Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano (a volcano composed of both lava flows and pyroclastic material) located on the Tanzanian side of the Kenya border. Kilimanjaro and its neighbor, Meru, are extinct volcanoes, with Kilimanjaro being the agglomeration of three distinct volcanoes, whose violent creation is geologically associated with the creation of the Great Rift Valley, 100km to the West. The highest point is Uhuru Peak on the volcano Kibo, 19,335 feet (5,895 meters), the highest point in Africa.](../imgThmb/3060_TZ_M.jpg)
![TANZANIA - KILIMANJARO - FROM GILLMAN'S TO UHURU [3102 TZ]](../imgThmb/3102_TZ_M.jpg)
![TANZANIA - KILIMANJARO - FROM THE SUMMIT OF KILIMANJARO [3103 TZ]](../imgThmb/3103_TZ_M.jpg)
![USA - CALIFORNIA - MOUNT WHITNEY [3090 US] At 14,494 ft., Whitney is the highest mountain in the lower US. This is the coolest part of the backpacker route. We camped at 12,500 feet and here we are the next day heading toward the summit. To the left is Guitar Lake and around the mountain to the right is the summit - a fun hike with spectacular views.](../imgThmb/3090_US_M.jpg)
![USA - CALIFORNIA - CLOUDS REST [3161 US] Our destination was Tenaya Lake, in the background and about 8 miles away. We started in Yosemite Valley at about 4,000 feet and arrived at Clouds Rest, just under 10,000 feet. It was a long, fun, beautiful day.](../imgThmb/IMG_0845a.jpg)
![USA - COLORADO - ICE CLIMBING IN OURAY [CO080078] - This is Heidi, my instructor and talented climber, making her way up the ice.](../imgThmb/CO080079A.jpg)
![USA - COLORADO - ICE CLIMBING IN OURAY [CO080021]](../imgThmb/CO080021B.jpg)
![USA - COLORADO - ICE CLIMBING IN OURAY [CO080015]](../imgThmb/CO080015A.jpg)
![USA - WASHINGTON - MOUNT RAINIER [3058 US] I think everyone and their mother climbed Mt. Rainier that day. It was a long slog to the top with numerous stops and issues... one guy's too slow and another's getting sick and yada yada yada...lots of bottlenecks. I took advantage of any shot I could get to make it look a little less crowded and a little more like the lovely mountain that it is. The weather was beautiful and the light was brilliant when I took this photo.](../imgThmb/3058__US_M.jpg)
USA - WASHINGTON - MOUNT RAINIER [3058 US] I think everyone and their mother climbed Mt. Rainier that day. It was a long slog to the top with numerous stops and issues... one guy's too slow and another's getting sick and yada yada yada...lots of bottlenecks. I took advantage of any shot I could get to make it look a little less crowded and a little more like the lovely mountain that it is. The weather was beautiful and the light was brilliant when I took this photo.
