Cable cars on Elbrus have resumed operation.
Four of the five cable cars at the ski resort in Kabardino-Balkaria opened to tourists today, but only the highest one was closed due to strong winds.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot", on the afternoon of February 14, three of the five cable cars at the Elbrus resort were closed due to strong winds: Mir-2 - Bashtala, Bashtala - Chiran, and Mir - Garabashi.
According to the resort's website, Elbrus has five cable cars: Azau - Krugozor (2,350 m - 3,000 m), Krugozor - Mir (3,000 m - 3,500 m), Mir-2 - Bashtala (3,500 m - 3,560 m), Bashtala - Chiran (3,560 m - 3,300 m) and Mir - Garabashi (3,500 m - 3,847 m).
The Mir - Garabashi cable car is closed "due to weather conditions (winds over 15 m/s)," the Elbrus administration announced today on its Telegram channel.
The remaining cable cars (Azau - Krugozor, Krugozor - Mir, Mir-2 - Bashtala, and Bashtala - Chiran) are open from 9:00 a.m. Moscow time. The Mir - Krugozor, Bashtala - Chiran, Krugozor - Azau ski runs, and the Sabi Park training slope are also open, the statement said.
As a reminder, the official opening of the ski season at the Elbrus resort took place on December 6, 2025. To mark the opening, the resort launched a new ski area with two cable cars, and 5.2 kilometers of new trails were developed in the eastern sector.
After many countries closed their borders due to the coronavirus pandemic, Russian tourists turned more attention to resorts within the country, particularly in the North Caucasus. Elbrus has become one of the most popular ski resorts. At the same time, vacationers complained about ski lift queues and traffic jams.
In 2025, according to authorities, two million tourists visited the resorts of Kabardino-Balkaria, tourist traffic increased by 13.7%.
In September 2025, three people died and several others were injured as a result of a cable car cable break on Mount Elbrus. The director and chief engineer of the company servicing the cable car were detained and arrested in connection with the deaths. In January, the case was transferred to court.
The prosecutor's office also filed lawsuits on behalf of the sons of two of the deceased men. One of the victims demanded 10 million rubles in compensation for the death of his father, the other - 15 million rubles.
Elbrus Region is a winter resort in Kabardino-Balkaria, popular among alpine skiers, freeriders, snowboarders, and other extreme sports enthusiasts.