On the southern slope of Mount Mashuk, near the summit, lies the grave of the outstanding Russian scientist and mountaineer Andrei Pastukhov. The monument was erected by his comrades in 1903.

Andrei Vasilievich Pastukhov was a versatile personality, known as a mountaineer, geodesist, glaciologist, ethnographer, biologist, and researcher. However, he is primarily celebrated as a pioneer of the mountainous Caucasus. Pastukhov was the first to create maps of the Caucasian ridges and peaks, such as Elbrus, Kazbek, Ararat, Alagez, Khalatz, and Ushba.

In the last years of his life, he often visited Pyatigorsk to rest, improve his health, and climb his favorite mountain Mashuk, from where magnificent views of the mountains opened up. Here he treated himself with mineral waters for chronic stomach ulcers. During one of his visits to this resort town, he remained there forever.

In 1899, Andrei Vasilievich passed away in a hospital in Pyatigorsk. He bequeathed to be buried at the top of his beloved mountain Mashuk. In the summer of 1903, his comrades erected an obelisk at his grave, made in Tiflis, which stands there to this day. A few years ago, the monument was thoroughly restored.