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Snowmobile expedition across Russian Arctic kicks off from Murmansk

The Northern Path 2019 snowmobile expedition kicked off from Murmansk in early January

TASS, January 15. The Northern Path 2019 snowmobile expedition kicked off from Murmansk in early January. The group’s leader Alexander Tabakov told TASS three racers from Magnitogorsk would cross the Russian Arctic from the Murmansk Region to Kamchatka within three months.

"We start from Murmansk, then go to Arkhangelsk, Naryan-Mar, Salekhard, Dikson, northern Taimyr, the Cheluskin Cape, Khatanga, Tiksi, Pevek, Uelen, Anadyr and further on to Kamchatka, where we shall try to make it to the Lopatka Cape - Kamchatka’s southern point, if the spring allows," he said. "We plan the snowmobile expedition will take about three months."

Thus, the route of about 17,000 km will cross Russia’s eight regions. The team is a union of experienced travelers. "The idea has developed gradually - we began from car tourism, then chose to drive snowmobiles, toured the Lena, the Yenisei, and then we decided to race along the entire coast line, we felt we can make it," he continued.

Expedition plus sightseeing

It was back in 2013 that the group covered the four-month’ route of 11,600 km between Murmansk and Chukotka. At that time, the travelers did not have sufficient experience in driving snowmobiles, the group leader said. "We lacked skills, on the other hand, there were many interesting places, both natural and historical, but we passed by them, we did not have time or chances to visit them," he added.

This time, the expedition will correct the past drawbacks and will visit places of attraction on the route. "Our first point is the Paanajarvi [National] Park - Karelia’s pearl, then we shall go along the White Sea shore’s edge, and then, hopefully, the Vaigach Island, if we manage it," he said, stressing the route would depend on weather conditions, and Taimyr might be the most complicated part. "Last time, it took us three days to make 100 km from the west to the east near the [Big] Baranov Cape on Chukotka - the sea was under a layer of pressure ridges, and later on, when we moved from Kamchatka towards Kolyma, we crossed that passage within two hours - everything depends on the weather."

Based on the gained experience, the group would not "fight" the boisterous weather and would rather wait for better conditions. "In the past, we did try fighting, but now the experience tells us it’s better to wait, be that a blizzard or freezing air," he said. "The main rule for the North, which I have learned, is - never hurry."

Fuel is the main load

Fuel takes the biggest part of the load the racers are carrying. They have collected all information related to places where they could get refill the stock. Besides, they carry spare parts.

"The vehicles are reliable, but they may fail, or we may break them, whatever - you never know what will happen there," the expedition’s mechanic Evgeny Berdnikov said.

Gennady Chernukha lays the route. "I am the navigator, my snowmobile is the first to go, I lay the road," he said. "I inspect narrow passages, rivers, logs, houses to stay overnight. I am the first, and the guys pulling the load follow me, while I drive a lighter loaded vehicle."

They have a tent, but, they say, will use it only if no other options are available. "We have a good tent, with an oven, but we usually try to get to some point: a polar station, a hunter’s house or some village," the group leader said. "We try not to pitch the tent in areas, where bears live, though we have a flare gun on us. We have not seen many of them yet, but till now usually they would‘ve run away from the snowmobiles."

Promoting the Arctic

The expedition team said they would try posting diaries, pictures and video on Facebook. A photographer will be with them for the first part of the route. "We shall try to write diaries, to post information. In the past expeditions, we heard from many friends there is nothing to show," the leaders said, adding the group will be the first in Russia to cover this long distance in the Arctic by snowmobiles. "In Russia, no doubt, nobody has covered this route fully by snowmobiles within one season; some parts - yes, all the participants have, but making it all - no, this is for the first time."

The North Path 2019 is supported by the Russian Geographical Society and the Moscow Lomonosov University. "They may participate further on in making the route, in promoting the North’s transport accessibility," the project’s coordinator Igor Smolin said. "During the expedition, where it would be possible, the racers will have meetings, including with the youth."

The expedition participants say the project may develop into a regular trans-Russian snowmobile rally involving teams of snowmobile producers, or an annual snowmobile relay across northern regions. "We want to promote the idea of a regular race, or a relay, as many people drive snowmobiles in the northern regions, <…> and they could use this route, the developed one, or it could be a more sports competition, thus, we shall have a permanent ‘path’ in the North, which could become this country’s icon," the expedition leader said.