The mountain is so tall that its peak is always covered in glaciers — rivers of ice that have been there for thousands of years. On a clear day, the view from the top stretches for hundreds of kilometres in every direction, across the jagged peaks of the Caucasus all the way into neighbouring countries.
The Gergeti Trinity Church sits at about 2,170 metres — already higher than most mountains in the UK — on a triangular spur of rock. It was built in the 14th century and has looked down at the valley below for over 600 years. Pilgrims and hikers climb the steep path to visit it, and on cloudy days the church appears to float above a sea of white mist.
In Georgian myth, the hero Amirani (a bit like Prometheus in Greek myths) was chained to Mount Kazbek as a punishment for bringing fire to humans. Every night an eagle would peck at him, and every morning his wounds would heal. The mountain has been sacred to people in this region for a very long time.
The village of Kazbegi (also called Stepantsminda) at the foot of the mountain is a popular base for hikers. From here, trails lead up through alpine meadows full of wildflowers to the snowline, where the world goes white and silent. On the clearest days, you can see the church, the glacier, and the peak all at once — like three layers of a magnificent cake.