It would be great to meet up with some people from this forum and take on Mt. Elbrus.
I have a suggestion. We use Pilgrim Tours as operator, the same as 7summits use for their trips. The only difference is that we do it ourselves, after all isnät that a part of the pleasure? I don't want to ride a skilift more then half-way up the mountain...
Their lite package is roughtly 100 Euros = approx. 120 USD. The price is dependant on the number of members in the team...
We go to Moscow and meet up there. Stay in a hotel for 1 night before we go off to MinVody. The internal flight is about $200 USD, we use the service for transport to MSD Lodge and stay there for a night before we start working ourselves up the mountain. Stay in tents and cook our own meals and everything...
I haven't done any real calculations but I think the trip would cost about $500 excluding airfare to and from Moscow to your destination...
Trunl, this is a great chance for you mate.
I've checked out the prices for you for airfare from Texas to Moscow, return flight with LuftHansa.
Route
Austin, TX - BERGSTROM INTL. (AUS) > Chicago - O'Hare International (ORD) > Frankfurt/Main International (FRA) > Moscow - Sheremetyevo (SVO) > Frankfurt/Main International (FRA) > Chicago - O'Hare International (ORD) > Austin, TX - BERGSTROM INTL. (AUS)
Price is approx. $1055
I would love to have you with the "expedition".
Hopefully some more members on this forum will be interested in joining!