On our first summit attempt we came up short stopping at 17,150 feet just before the saddle between the east and west summits of Mt. Elbrus. Weather turned stormy with increasing snow accumulation and fierce winds.
The following day was clear though and we managed to climb to the highest point on the European continent on a warm and windless day.
A few pictures showing some of the highlights of the trip are below. The entire photo gallery can be viewed here: http://kurtwedberg.smugmug.com/gallery/8678076_8HFF9/1/573243990_vrdww

L to R: Chuck Raper, Jim Wood, Debbie Wood, Connie Self, Kurt Wedberg

Peterhof Palace, St Petersburg

Peterhof Palace, St Petersburg

Church at Peterhof Palace, St. Petersburg

Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg

The most famous painting in the Hermitage Museum is Rembrandt's Return of the Prodigal Son

Knight armor on display at the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg. The Hermitage Museum has so many artifacts that if a person viewed each piece for one minute it would take seven years to see everything. Furthermore, only 10% of everything in the museum's possession is on display!

Boarding a Russian airliner bound for Mineralnye Vody

The Mt. Elbrus region is right next to the border with Georgia

Acclimatization hike on Cheget Mtn in the Baksan Valley

A beautiful waterfall we passed during an acclimatization hike

Turskol Glacier on the flanks of Mt. Elbrus

The group taking a break above the Turskol Valley on the flanks of Mt. Elbrus

Acclimatization hike on Mt. ElbrusThe Diesel Hut at approximately 14,000 feet on Mt. Elbrus

The Diesel Hut at approximately 14,000 feet on the flanks of Mt. Elbrus