Mountains are dangerous, especially the popular ones. All too
often we read about unfortunate skiers killed in avalanches,
tree wells, and crevasses. Mt. Elbrus (5642m) is a dangerous
peak—every year between 15 and 30 people die on its slopes.
Crevasses, cliffs and avalanches are the usual cause of death
but one incident in the region is particularly noteworthy. On
February 18, 2011, two unidentified men stopped a van carrying
five Moscow tourists near the base of Elbrus—after claiming to
be plainclothes policemen, the men opened fire on the
passengers. Three of the tourists died; two were hospitalized.
Later that day, a bomb damaged a support tower for a cable car
that travels up the side of Mount Elbrus. Elbrus under blue
skies. A volcano, Elbrus has been inactive for nearly two
thousand years, however one myth holds that Zeus imprisoned
Prometheus under Elbrus (called Strobilus in ancient times) as
punishment for stealing fire from the gods. [Photo] Wikicommons
Mountains are dangerous, especially the popul