Climbing the highest European and Russian mountain with a large format camera

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Originally Posted by fotopfw

Loved the video! Great to take that 5x7" to the top. Wonderful results!

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Thanks! I’m in a process of darkroom printing now, and preparing a small black and white exhibition.

I remember when one of my friends decided to "test" one of those same flimsy tents in a mountain storm. Instead, it tested him! I brought a Bibler tent and was perfectly cozy. The next time we went in the mountains together, he was carrying a Bibler too. That other thing landed in the trashcan.

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Originally Posted by Drew Wiley

I remember when one of my friends decided to "test" one of those same flimsy tents in a mountain storm. Instead, it tested him! I brought a Bibler tent and was perfectly cozy. The next time we went in the mountains together, he was carrying a Bibler too. That other thing landed in the trashcan.

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I really like and can totally recommend a new gear made from Dyneema Cuben Fiber. Tents, backpacks...
My Zpacks backpack for the large format camera weight only 600gr, instead of 3kg - f64 backpack. And Zpacks is much more comfortable.

http://zpacks.com

https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com

Interesting. But those packs are way too small for my needs. And tent fabrics which might work in cold dry snow seem to fail miserably in damp snow, not to mention the hurricane-force winds I've been in, in the mtns. I do use lightwt tents for certain things. Just about every kind of gear out there has been tested early on by someone I knew, or even was with when they were the official guinea pig for a prototype. Lots and lots of comical stories. But I never use camera packs per se - just wrap the view camera in bubble wrap then in my goosedown jacket, then into my regular backpacking packs.

For horrible weather and wind, a frame Bivy inside an arctic tent. Mummy bag, reflective survival blanket underneath. Oh, and sleep naked.

Been there, done that (everything except sleeping naked in the mountains); not a good idea. Silvery "survival blankets" equal miserable condensation. Bivy sacks and "coffins" don't have a steep profile to shed rain or heavy snow. I once had one develop two solid inches of freezing ice rime atop it; then it literally shattered! The only thing that kept me alive was that later in the night it started snowing heavily - deep powder snow, which is actually quite insulating, at least compared to rain and sleet. Yes indeed, Jac, after that experience I did indeed buy an arctic quality tent! But no, no Bivy inside of it. I gave my replacement bivy sack to my nepew when he went to climb Mt Edith Cavell in the Canadian Rockies and had to spend a night sitting on a ledge. And that's how Bivy sacks are actually meant to be used - vertically. Ah, mummy bags - they leave my shoulders cramped, but it comes with the territory. I have a Goretex covered one. Real nice because it dries out fast if it gets wet out or collects frost - not that it's any good in a serious rain - a tent is still needed for that, but otherwise a luxury that makes getting back on the trail in the morning a lot faster. What on earth do you use for a winter tent below your palm trees there in balmy Minnesota?

Hi everybody!

Here is my story about climbing with a large format camera posted in ILFORD MAGAZINE!

https://www.ilfordphoto.com/elbrus-t...format-camera/

Good story and images!

Yes, enjoyed the article, thanks for posting.

Roger

I think the initial shot of the mountain is really well done....nice contrast. No doubt it will print nicely.

Les