Islamic Separatists bomb gondola on Mt. Elbrus

[skieurmalade]

Super nutty news methinks:

http://www.grindtv.com/snow/blog/246...ias+mt+elbrus/

Terrorism prompts warning against travel to Russia's Mt. Elbrus
By: Pete Thomas, GrindTV.com

The gunning down of three tourists near a Mt. Elbrus ski resort and subsequent clashes with armed militants have prompted Russia to caution skiers and mountaineers against visiting the Northern Caucasus region.

The militants, believed to be Islamic separatists, are blamed for blowing up a cable car pylon last Friday, causing gondola cars to plummet to the snow. Nobody was hurt in that incident. The three slain tourists were part of a group ambushed while traveling to a ski area in small van. Two others were injured.

Since the weekend attacks, deadly clashes between government troops and militants have occurred in the Mt. Elbrus wilderness.

On Wednesday, air strikes and mortar bombings were carried out with unknown results, according to the Moscow Times. A large shelter stocked with explosives and firearms was discovered on the slopes of Elbrus.

About 5,000 people are believed to be vacationing in the area. Most are skiers and snowboarders, but as Europe's highest mountain (18,510 feet), Elbrus also is popular among climbers during the spring and summer.

A top Russian official has demanded that tourism be suspended until anti-terrorist operations are complete, but travel agencies have said that tourists are still coming.

All of this has to be unsettling for those planning to stage the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi, which is not terribly far from the troubled area.

[back bowl]

I've traveled quite a bit in that area. It's very, very sketchy territory. Separatist conflicts between Russia and Chechnya a few miles to the east, between Georgia and the Russian-backed Abkhazians a few miles to the south and west, and between Georgia and the South Ossetians a few miles to the south and east.

I don't know what they're thinking holding the Olympics in Sochi. It'd be like holding the Olympics in Kuwait- not particularly dangerous in and of itself, but so close to some seriously dangerous motherfuckers and such a huge target.

[mntlion]

causing gondola cars to plummet to the snow.

well at least the gondola evacuation was easy

[iscariot]

I've traveled quite a bit in that area. It's very, very sketchy territory. Separatist conflicts between Russia and Chechnya a few miles to the east, between Georgia and the Russian-backed Abkhazians a few miles to the south and west, and between Georgia and the South Ossetians a few miles to the south and east.

I don't know what they're thinking holding the Olympics in Sochi. It'd be like holding the Olympics in Kuwait- not particularly dangerous in and of itself, but so close to some seriously dangerous motherfuckers and such a huge target.

It's such a beautiful area and the mountains are amazing. I can't wait to see the Olympics there. Unfortunately there is unrest in the area, although I haven't had any direct interactions and don't know very much about the situation. The people I've met and know in the area are so kind and generous.