We are off on our first acclimatization hike.  We head down from the lodge to the base of another ski resort on Cheget.  We will be taking the lifts as high as they go and then hiking up to the summit at 3550m (11,647ft).  The 11 day group takes a longer, less steep path to the summit while we scramble over rockfall.  At the top, a few people decide to stand on the snow for a picture, snow that we could clearly see was a cornice on approach.  A cornice is an overhanging edge of snow on a ridge and it is extremely dangerous as it can collapse at any moment.  The views here of Elbrus to the north and the Causcus mountains separating Russia from Georgia in the south are fantastic.  After pictures, drinks and a snack we all head back down.  At one point there is a long snow slope with no crevasses and a long run out, so we glissade (slide down on our butts); this was a ton of fun.  We took the lifts the rest of the way down and lunch on lamb and local dishes in the valley.  We spent a few minutes in the market before jumping in a van.  We stopped at several places to get 5L each of drinking water for the Elbrus climb and rent gear that people did not bring.  Back at the lodge we prepare our packs for the morning when we will be going up Elbrus to the Barrel Huts at 3800m (12,467ft) for the rest of the climb.  Anything we don’t bring we leave in a store room at the lodge.  The next day is a big acclimatization hike, so I plan on not drinking tonight but just socializing in the pub.  Hege changes all that when she comes down and we share a couple of beers.  Her sister, Stine, is sick in the room and has missed dinner…..fortunately her stomach problems abate in a day or two.