Hungarian Climbers Embark on Challenging Winter Expedition to Georgia’s Pinnacle
The Hungarian National Climbing Team is set for an ambitious adventure in Georgia as they gear up to tackle a new alpine-style winter route. Their destination? The formidable south face of Shkhara towering at an impressive 5,193 meters and holding the title of Georgia’s loftiest mountain.
Nestled near the Russia-Georgia border, Shkhara commands attention in the central part of the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range, southeast of Elbrus. Ranking as the third-highest peak in the Caucasus, it stands just a breath away from the towering Dykh-Tau.
The team’s focus is on the challenging 2,300-meter south wall, a daunting ascent that has seen success only once before, achieved by Georgian alpinists Archil Badriashvili and Giorgi Tepnadze in February 2018. Their triumphant eight-day journey left a mark on the history of winter climbs. On the flip side of the mountain, a handful of winter ascents have been recorded.
The Hungarian team comprises skilled climbers Viktor Agoston, Laszlo Szasz, David Kocsis, and Andras Rusko. Not strangers to remarkable achievements, Agoston, Szasz, and two other team members secured the inaugural ascent of the 5,980-meter Bondit Peak in Pakistan in 2022.
This time around, the team has set their sights on the Beknu Khergiani route up Shkhara. It’s not their first attempt; four years ago, in March, they ventured forth just as winter was bidding adieu. However, their efforts were thwarted by melting snow and adverse weather conditions, forcing a retreat from 4,300 meters in heavy snowfall.
Undeterred by their previous setback, the Hungarians are gearing up for a second shot at the challenging Beknu Khergiani route, hoping for better luck and fairer conditions on the breathtaking slopes of Shkhara.
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