World’s Highest Hotel

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 174, 26 July 1938, Page 12

World’s Highest Hotel

Construction was resumed recently on i L ho world’s iugnest hotel, which is being built one mile from tne summit of 1 xvlouut Elbrus, m the Caucasus. Two and a-nalf miles above sea-level cue new lioiel will be a sturdily-built, convenient haven which, according to okiciai plans, should be ready to accommodate Soviet and foreign mountain climbers early this summer, at the opening of the Alpine season. VVork on the hotel was abandoned last autumn, wnen heavy snows made it impossible to transport materials from nearby Nalchik, the capital of Kalbar* dino-Balkana. Already powerful trucks are slowly crawly up the nearly-constructed ninemile road extending from the Elbrus foothills to the site of the future mountain hotel. Construction of this road, which was completed last year, was a considerable feat of engineering in itself. Passing through woods and valleys, circling waterfalls and tortuous gorges for the first six miles, the road traverses enormous glaciers in the final three-mile stretch. Fifteen bridges were fluDg across wide cracks in the ice. Tons of explosives were employed to blast a path through the rocks along the route leading to the glaciers. The three-storey wooden structure ' will be streamlined to lessen resistance to violent mountain storms. It will have 45 comfortable rooms. Another important service to Elbrus g climbers will be several powerful elec- j trie searchlights which will operate j from the hotel roof. They will be used 3 for signalling and to light the way on 3 the last difficult stretch upward. An l electric siren will warn climbers of ap- * proaching storms.