A Quick Hike Up Mount Mashuk for a Breathtaking Sunset

We'd been counting down the days until our New Year's break in Kislovodsk, and we were determined to make the most of our 10-day trip. So, we decided to head to Piatigorsk, our neighboring city, and check out Mount Mashuk. To make the journey more comfortable, we rented a car – and even managed to negotiate with a local taxi driver to take us to Mashuk and other local attractions on time. Our first stop was the underground blue 'stinky' lake, Pervaya Pervaya. We had planned to visit the Lermontov Museum next, but it was closed for the holidays. So, we headed towards the foot of the mountain instead, which wasn't far away.

Lermontov Museum Lermontov Museum Lermontov Museum Lermontov Museum I was pleasantly surprised by how low the mountain was, especially compared to the mighty Elbrus – it's only 993 meters above sea level. It took us about 3 hours to get there. There were a lot of people, and a huge queue to get up. The weather was mild, so I just stood there, breathed in the fresh air, and took in the surroundings. The ticket price for an adult return was 400 rubles, which is very reasonable. One-way was 250 rubles (you take the funicular up, and walk back down on the asphalt path – don't worry, it's all very civilized). Children's tickets are only available up to 8 years old with a birth certificate. Kids under 5 can go for free. We had to wait in line for about 50 minutes.

гора МашукAs you walk in, you'll find a souvenir shop, ice cream stalls, and drink vendors. There's also a paid restroom. And, of course, you can't miss the stray dogs – a classic Stavropol Krai sight. They'll just give you a friendly stare and move on. The cable car ride takes about 3 minutes, and if you manage to snag a good spot by the window, you can enjoy the stunning views of nature, sunset, the distant Elbrus, and Piatigorsk below. But be prepared for a crowd, and you might end up staring at someone's back.

Reaching the top, you'll find a spacious and cool spot (compared to how it feels down below). There's a little cafe, benches, but in winter, you won't be able to enjoy it too much – it's still pretty chilly. You can take some atmospheric photos, enjoy the views – it's romantic! We spent about 20 minutes up there, and we were already getting tired from the hike. We had planned to visit the place of the duel between Lermontov (it's not far from Mount Mashuk, we got there by car in about 10 minutes) and head back to Kislovodsk in the sanatorium.

The mountain may not be that high, but the pressure difference is still noticeable, especially if your pressure is usually low – that's my case. When I climbed up, I immediately felt like I'd gotten a boost, and it was easier to breathe than down below. But on the way back home, it was like the air was pressing down on me, pushing me into the car seat like there was no air to breathe. Then it seemed to let up. After my trip to Elbrus, after descending, I not only physically felt the intense atmospheric pressure on my body but also experienced a pounding headache. Thankfully, that wasn't the case after Mashuk.

FINAL VERDICT: it was a pretty cool experience, and I'd highly recommend it if you're planning a trip to Pyatigorsk – it's a local attraction, and I found that the higher altitude made it easier for me to breathe (of course, that's just personal preference). I'd definitely go back!