5. Elbrus

• Located in the Russian Caucasus mountains
• Europe’s highest mountain
• First ascent in 1874
• A cable car and chairlift can take climbers as high as 3,750m
• In the 1990s, Land Rover took a car to the top of the east summit for a commercial.

Distance (base camp to summit): 5.6 miles.
Season: June-August.
Estimated time to complete (days): 15.
Temperatures: From 10F to -40F on the summit.
Altitude: 5643m/18,514ft.
Summit GPS Waypoints: N43.21’12.9”, E042.26’01.1”.
Required Gear: Down suit or down trousers and parka, 12-point crampons, ice axes(s), high-altitude gloves, down sleeping bag (rated to at least -20F), harness, belay device, ascender, ice screws, slings, carabiners, prusik cord, tent, rope.

Average Cost: $5,000
Difficulty: Moderate. Largely non-technical.