Behind the wild, gloomy Caucasus Mountains lies a sunny valley that not only pours oil into Russia’s lap but has cradled many of Russia’s top leaders. From Georgia, one of a multitude of small ...

Mt. Elbrus in southern Russia, one of the active volcanoes in the Caucasus Mountains. (Note the prominent flow levees sticking out of the snow cover on the dacite lava flow in the middle of the image.

“Socks are key. Dry socks in fact. They’re the most important thing you need to pack,” my guide Giorgi says nonchalantly. “You should never go hiking without an extra pair.” I nod approvingly but ...

In 2008, veteran journalist Tom Parfitt walked 1,000 km from Sochi on Russia’s Black Sea to the city of Derbent on the Caspian – a journey through the North Caucasus mountains and their surroundings.