Cable cars on Elbrus have resumed operation.
Three cable cars have resumed operation at a ski resort in Kabardino-Balkaria after being shut down due to strong winds.
As reported by the "Caucasian Knot," on May 31, three of the five cable cars (Mir - Garabashi, Mir-2 - Bashtala, and Bashtala - Chiran) at the Elbrus resort were shut down due to strong winds. One of the ski slopes, Garabashi-Mir, is also closed to tourists.
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).
Today, all five cable cars at the resort are open from 9:00 a.m. Moscow time: Azau-Krugozor, Krugozor-Mir, Mir-Garabashi, Mir-2-Bashtala, and Bashtala-Chiran, the website reports. The Elbrus administration's Telegram channel.
The Garabashi-Mir and Bashtala-Chiran ski slopes are also open for skiing, the publication notes.
As a reminder, the official opening of the ski season at Elbrus 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. 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 deceased men. One of the victims demanded 10 million rubles in compensation for the death of his father, and the other demanded 15 million rubles.