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12 Sep 2008Expedition to Elbrus

On Aug. 19, 2008, a Polimaster team challenged climbing mount Elbrus (5642m) at Caucasus, Russia, to test newly developed radiation detectors in extreme environmental conditions and measure gamma radiation background on the highest peak in Europe. It was a second time Polimaster team goes to mountain expeditions for the field equipment tests after year 2000 climb to Kala Patthar (5545m) mountain in the Nepalese Himalaya.

The final ascent began at 4020m from the base camp and after a steep six hour climb team got to the west peak of Elbrus mountan at 5642m altitude (18510 ft.). It took two more hours to make all measurements and return back. "It was magical," said Alexander Gordeev, deputy director of Polimaster International. "Blue sky and almost limitless visibility framed magnificent views and panorama of all Caucasus mountains”.

All equipment worked perfectly inspite of frosen temperature, low oxigen and decreased atmosferic pressure. On the very summit the readings of the instruments went well over the preset thresholds and achived 45 microR/h. Sergei Klimovich, senior engineer of Polimaster equipment commented: “gamma radiation background at such altitudes is larger then that at the sea level because of increased intensity of cosmic radiation. Another factor producing larger background is natural radioactivity of rocks”. Intensity of UV radiation was 1.5 times larger and UV radiation reflected from snow surface was another 60% of regular UV level on the sea level.

Polimaster team plans to continue its mountain expedition experience and provide public with radiation readings from other World’s highest peaks in the nearest future.

Sunrise at about 5000m on the way to the top

On the west pike summit 5642m (18510 ft.)

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