Heliskiing in Georgia

Watch this exciting film about heliskiing in Georgia and dream away.

The charming country of Georgia, powder snow, alpine skiing, fantastic cousine, good drinks — that makes a fantastic vacation! I was in Mestia two years ago during summer and could see they’d just started to construct a skiing resort at that time. Gudauri is an established restort since many years. And with a helicopter, the seriously steep mountains of the Caucasus range are all yours. And why not heli across the border to do some skiing in Chechnya? :) I’ve heard it’s been done. Not by this organization, but I’m telling you it has been done.

When you’re done watching this, go on and watch the very exotic and well-produced video diaries of the Skiing the Silk Road project.

North Ushba from Georgia

I brist på seriöst innehåll postar jag en favoritvideo från tuben. Det är en väldigt munter bestigning av Ushba (4710 m) från den georgiska sidan. Videon ger egentligen inte en rättvis bild av ansträngningen. Ushba är en riktig utmaning även för erfarna alpinister. De trevliga norrmännen i videon (som jag hade lite Internetkontakt med) är förvisso starka och något så när erfarna, men utan sådan tur med vädret hade det varit svårt, tror jag. Själv har jag knappast kunskaperna, men jag har iaf fått se Ushbas imponerande och lite kusliga tvillingtoppar från en närliggande höjd i Svaneti i Georgien.

Photos from my trip to Georgia

The EU Commission delegation office in Tbilisi.

The founder watching over the city of Tbilisi.

Narikala in the old part of Tbilisi.

What is that? Premises of Dr. No?

When trying to get to the northern Kazbegi region, our marshrutka (a minibus) broke down. First a couple of people came to aid us, but we later had to jump into a new marshrutka. At one instance, an old BMW 3 series convertible pulled over. The driver took a bolt out of the roof fitting and handed it to the marshrutka driver. The BMW driver jammed an ill-fitting screw where the bolt had been in his roof and drove away.

Meadow in Stepantsminda, Kazbegi. In the Caucasus, meadows may be horizontal or vertical.

Telecom, tv, military communications? No idea.

Stepantsminda and Gereti.

The Mtatsminda Zamemba church, as seen on our way up Mt. Kazbeg.

Glacier on Mt. Kazbeg.

The clouded summit of Mt. Kazbeg with a glacier in the foreground.

This is what I had before my eyes after accidentally straying off the path, lost on my own. For about 30 minutes, I had no idea where I was. At one time, I peeked over a ridge only to find a precipice. At that point, I’ll have to admit to feeling a bit uneasy. What bothered me the most was that nightfall was coming. Only minutes later, though, I could make out the path again in the remote distance.


“ЗА РОДИНУ, ЗА СТАЛИНА”, meaning “for the homeland, for Stalin”. Creepy indeed. Earlier the same day a film crew had been shooting scenes for some Russian film in this neighbourhood. I hope the picture of Stalin is only a prop. However, I have seen other public pictures of the dictator in this area.


The snow-capped peak of Mt. Kazbeg.

Back in Tbilisi, this is the new presidential palace under construction.

Sulphur baths in Tbilisi.

Climbing the Caucasus

Now I’m back in Tbilisi after two days spent in Stepantsminda in the north of Georgia. We walked and climbed Mt. Kazbeg. I reached a glacier which was very impressive at a distance but looked more like a huge mass of ice and dirt, which I guess is what it actually is. :) I’m going to post stunning imagery once back in Sweden. Now it’s back out to the streets and baths of Tbilisi!