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Expedition Siberia - Winter is here!
Sep 29, 2004 14: 12 EST
Just when the sun rose at Antarctica, winter is descending on Siberia. In spite of all the fishing luck, Johan is getting worried that they probably should paddle:
"I've just made my way back inside the warm and cozy cot after we've checked and fetched the fishing nets in an inlet on the other side of a stormy Kolyma. A work that is freezing cold for the fingers. The temperature outside is now around -3°C but strong and icy winds up to 10 to 12 m/s makes the actual temperature far lower, around -15°C and to be able to check the nets we had to break through a layer of thin ice. While the wind is whirling around the tent Mikael is still outside by the fire grilling some fillets from yesterdays successful hunt, 2 hares, as one of them which will be tonight's dinner.
Kill the fire - time to leave camp!
As you understand by the low temperature, winter has arrived. The last three days we've had temperature's below zero all the time, during the nights as low as -10°C. This makes us a bit worried regarding whether we will be able to reach Zyryanka in time or not. What we fear is that we've stayed too long at this camp.
It will take us four days of demanding paddling to reach Zyryanka, but if the temperature keeps falling during the nights, we might not get there in time before the ice will cover the Kolyma! And if the wind will stay as strong as it is right now, we won't be able to paddle at all!
Will the river freeze on us
This is the situation we fear the most. It's impossible to know when and if there will be any change in weather. And even harder to know how when ice is making paddling impossible. We don't worry that the main stream of the river will be freezing up yet, but the problem is that it might be very difficult, if not impossible, to find a place to camp if the sides of the river starts to freeze, and we can't keep on paddling
during the nights!
Despite this worry, there's no doubt that this is the weather and state of the nature we prefer. Even if fingers are stiff, the surroundings are really spectacular! The snow makes the days clear and clean and lights
up the dark evenings. The best part of the cold though, is probably the possibility to stay outside and enjoy everything without mosquitoes, small flies or gnats making life a misery!
The start of this expedition didn’t go too well – mosquitoes, broken fishing poles, a rising river flooding their camp site, doctors judging them too fat to go, wife leaving. . .
This expedition will eventually take to land and the two will be wishing for the hot and muggy days swarmed with mosquitoes when they get a taste of what Siberia is really known for – bitter coldness. They’ve got a whole year ahead of them!
Husband and wife adventurers Mikael and Titti Strandberg, planned embarking upon an epic journey through Siberia stretching over 3500km. Joining them is a young guy, a great outdoor talent, and good hunter, Johan "Delta" Ivarsson. Before the expedition started, however, Titti decided to abort as previous medical conditions mean its very unsafe for her to be exposed to such cold for as long as they will.
Live image of Johan and his cold fish over Contact 3.0, courtesy of the team.
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