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For today, the tendency of the increasing interest to active, outdoor way of life is obviously seen in Russia. More and more
people discover for themselves such activities as mountaineering, rockclimbing, iceclimbing. It is sad to write about that,
but with this popularity the quantity of accidents, sometimes fatal, increased strongly. The reason for that is easily found:
the mass media advertising of extreme did not cause the developing of the other, more important, though less appreciable on the first sight part
- consumer culture in the aspect of dangerous kinds of activities.
There are many examples. Under avalanches die young snowboarders, the not experienced climbers decide to challenge the
mountains out of their competence and pay high price for that, many travellers are lost in wilderness who has not the basic ideas
about navigation. And to complete my picture, it is necessary to add some more black paint, mentioning the pitiable
condition of Russian rescue service and its failure to provide help in the most of cases.
In the countries, which are more advanced comparing to Russia, and which are not so prone to the global changes,
the problem which was described above, been solved a long time ago. For example, in the extremely popular mountain areas of northern
Italy the quantity of accidents is much smaller in comparison, for example with Caucasus.
...We sat in a cafe in Terskol village at the foot of the highest mountain of Europe - Elbrus, talking over the details of
our recent successful climb of Elbrus. Attracted by the sound of English speaking (my friends were from Australia),
three gays from Switzerland came to our table. We became acquainted. There was, among our new friends, one aged man -
professional mountain guide, experienced in the climbs all around the world. Everybody was surprised, when Valter (it was the name of this person)
has asked me, could I guide on Elbrus.
- For what you need a guide there, on such an easy mountain as Elbrus, if one year ago you climbed Everest?! - somebody asked him.
- Yes, I did climb Everest! And I am going to tell this story to my grandchildren for a long time, it is why I would not climb
Elbrus alone by the route I don't know. It would be stupid and useless risk! - it was the answer of Swiss guide.
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