Mount Elbrus, Lower Dongasorun, North Face Ascent and Descent by Snowboard. In mid-May our Russian guide Misha (who was along as much for his mastery of the language as his knowledge of Elbrus), Wade McKay, and I made an ascent of Lower Dongasorun's north face via a new route which I snowboarded. The ascent and descent involved mostly steep snow climbing with a couple of icy sections and a rock pitch (V) to complete the ascent. It was very warm and every turn cut loose snow down the face and couloirs.

Stephen Koch