Mount Elbrus descent

We had summited the highest mountain in Europe and now we working our way down and back to our hotel in Chebut. The flood had severed the gas pipes so there was no gas so no hot water. Looking south behind the hotel and beyond it is the border with Georgia.

 There was no hot water and no gas due to the floods...but also no traffic on the roads. We were on the evacuation list and we made our way to the nearest military post which was just up the road from the ski station.

We were checked for ID and allowed into the border police base to be evacuated. The helicopter came in over the trees and landed.

 Every inflight brought supplies in for the thousands people stranded in the area. The return flight down the valley took people out. There was a long line of volunteers, soldiers and locals who unloaded the helicopter when it landed.

 And then it was time for us to get aboard.

 A view inside the helicopter.

 And then it was time to take off.

 And rise above the local forest.

 And fly down the valley.

 Past local communities.

 And around a bend in the valley and we were soon able to land at the next military base down the valley.

Some military vehicles lined up near the landing point.

 Some temporary accommodation near the helicopter landing point as we came into land.

 Some of the relief effort mobilised to help those further up the valley.

 Leaving the helicopter.

 Then we were collected by our driver and continued our journey down the valley towards Nalchik, the capital of the Kabardino Balkar Republic and onward by air to Moscow.