Stability Issues

Stability issues! Just two words sums up the last 7 days in the area of Volcano Bakening. Two of us experienced gastro-intestinal instability and one of us was overstable, much like a plugged bear. The snow pack was with the majority and a bit less stable than we would have liked.

The day we arrived at basecamp we were in the beginning of a storm which landed us in the tent for the duration of the day. When we awoke the next day it was super windy, bitter cold and blue-bird clear with 6 to 12 inches of new snow. Skiing around our first day we were checking out conditions and saw quite a bit of slide activity and wind loaded slopes. We were able to find a few aspects that were firm and safe and skied until 8:00 p.m. The second day warmed up quite a bit and we сlimbed higher to ski a bit more, again skiing until 8:00 p.m. Our third day of skiing, though windy, allowed us to top out on a peak with spectacular views of Bakening.

We had a great time in this remote area. Did not see a single soul for the entire time in the mountains. Stumbled on a few bear prints and a bear den but otherwise not much in the way of wildlife. An interesting trip: From the time we handed the bus driver a note written by Martha (it said something to the effect of "Dear Mr. Bus Driver, please let these crazy Americans off the bus at the 208th kilometer and then look for them at the same kilometer on April 23rd or 24th. Thank you and be nice to them!") to the 208th km - it was in the middle of frickin' no where. From the slog in to the three days of sun and skiing. From the bus stopping and picking us up right on schedule to the little Russian girl passing us Skittles through the seats and the three beers we enjoyed while riding the bus back to Yelizovo!

Today we hope to firm up our plans for the weekend. The plan is to leave tomorrow with Gleb, the Director of Recreation and Tourism for Nalychevo Park and Inga, the Director of Ecological Education for Nalychevo, and head to Avacha Volcano for the Competition. (Officially an internationally sanctioned race because of the Americanskis!) We will be fed and housed for the entire weekend with the rest of the competitors and are looking forward to making some new friends and contacts. We were hoping to go cat skiing on Sunday but think this will change due to the weather forecast calling for a "cyclone." In which case we will chill at a local hot springs, begin packing or ski at one of the resorts. Monday I have a meeting with the Director of Tourism for Kamchatka to discuss eco-tourism, sustainability, independent travel, backcountry ski touring and other issues related to North Americans traveling to Kamchatka. We leave on Wednesday for a long layover in Seoul and will get more pictures posted then.

Until next time, Das Veedanya.