I will be in the Caucasus for 10 days in June 2008 with a couple climbing partners. I was told by a couple russian sources that Ushba, the Matterhorn of the Caucasus, is off limit and approaching the mountain would get me in prison (captured either by the russian or by the georgian military)....of course, I would rather avoid this inconvenient situation.
I was wondering if any of you out there have attempted/climbed Ushba from the North (Russian side...which is also the easiest route). And if you did, how your party got there without ending up in prison. Or if you know a contact person on site who could get us through. APPRECIATED!