Shkhara, Georgia Highpoint, Partner Search

[Eric Gilbertson]

I'm looking for a partner to climb Shkhara (5200m), the Georgia highpoint, via the south side Beknu route (Russian grade 5B), between mid July and mid august. 

Beta on the route: https://mountainworld-com-ua.translate.goog/blog/shhara-b-hergiani-5b-opisanie-marshruta/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp 

Route picture attached below. 

It's about 19 pitches, rock/mixed/ice climbing. Likely six days on route plus weather buffer and travel. Probably two weeks total including acclimation.  

My background - I've led routes up to Russian grade 6A (Pobeda via abalakov), climbed K2 no O2. I attempted Shkhara in 2016 from the russia side but had to bail due to weather and that side is not currently accessible. It would be great to have an experienced partner I could swing leads with or simulclimb for efficiency, and maybe do some practice climbs in WA beforehand. I'm based in WA. 

Thanks. 

Eric Gilbertson

[bedellympian]

Looks fun but won't work for me this year. To clarify some things in the hopes of attracting some partners for you... looks like multiple pitches up to mid-5th but nothing harder if I'm reading this right? Grades are UIAA? Over 7k' of vert from just below 10k' to 17k' summit? Honestly sounds like a rad adventure.