The Lena River on a homemade raft (2011)

The Lena River, from its headwaters to its confluence with the Laptev Sea, resigned in the summer of 2011 Nizhny Novgorod traveler Yuri Prokofiev. The Lena River – one of the largest rivers in Russia, it flows through the Irkutsk Region and Yakutia. Yuri began its launch in Ust-Kut and ended, sailed to Tiksi. It is about 4,000 km route! He did not take with him a firearm, GPS navigator and radio. He was absolutely alone in his makeshift raft, yielding entirely of this wonderful river. And in this article we are able to find the details of this campaign, at least for a moment and travel back to that wonderful land.

The idea of my trips is that I am not a pro and I go on a route only to his craft, invented and made me well, using only your own risk, and do not set myself targets to whom something to prove. I’m just a pilgrim with his eccentricities. In this format, and will go on …

Part 1st. Start of Ust-Kut

In Nizhny Novgorod to Ust-Kut get the train, the raft was sent to a freight train in advance. 3 days to wallow side on the shelf. On arrival at Ust-Kut had to decide two basic questions of where to live until it is dense. Since my financial capabilities are not allowed to live in a hotel, more than 1,000 rubles a day, began to look for other options.

A good man advised to go to the same kind woman named Vasilina and she confirmed his good name. Settled in non-residential building without pay, for working out the housing feasible labor. Watering the beds in the garden, digging the earth and did all sorts of stuff around the house. Had to work hard for a long time, the raft came only on the tenth day. Once received notice that the raft came home and weighed with things left the station, got on the raft and cargo taxi went to the river bank. For three hours brought a raft and Lena saga began …

Amazing Lena River. Siberian captivates with its breath from the first day’s journey. Strong currents in the upper part of the background creates a constant murmuring water, he wakes me up in the morning and went to bed in the evening, when the forces of the constant rowing is not nothing else. Making up a simple raft of waiting in Ust-Kut. River shipping vessels and are often, so you should always be on the lookout for a small width in the barge’s no room for maneuver, therefore, not to tempt fate coming very close to the shore.

On the third day of the journey was in trouble, all of a sudden there was a black cloud-bullet and started a whirlwind. I just had poked his nose into the shore and then it began. The raft was unable to bind and it was the strongest wind drag from the shore, pushing his feet into the rocks with difficulty restraining him. On the high bank of the forest swayed throwing off huge rocks down. They raced with a terrible crash on me, as I thought, but Saint Nicholas again stood up for me and I raft remained intact.

Out of this mess without loss, not counting the wounded leg, jumped on shore barefoot on sharp stones. After visiting what is wintering pulled stuck tick, vaccinated I did not do, so I just drank alcohol, so as not to bother about it. With light feelings Pochet more …

Part 2nd. On the Siberian river

Wind counter, rowed all the way as far as enough strength, threw a water sail and decided to roll the hips a bit as the conditions allow. Once went immediately passed out and woke up from splashing water near the raft. He raised his head and instantly awake, I was floating on a bear. He grabbed the spear to push him away, but he only saw me and turned to the shore. It was a mother bear and cubs were running on the beach.

I feel a little relieved. When she got to the shore, immediately made it clear who was boss, and I do not insist, got up and went for a paddle on. To minimize a meeting with the bear get up to rest only on the islands without vegetation him to see me and I did the same thing. Often seen their tracks and on the islands, where there is vegetation, so they stayed on only as a last resort. Sometimes, because of the strong wind got up on the islands for two days or more, fully passed on fish food to save food.

During the displaced camps and when he walked on the water a sail made from empty cans of corned beef under the stove, I have to go to the Arctic Circle, I think that she’s come in handy. Make of the empty pipe gas cartridges …

Part of the 3rd. Lena Pillars and beyond

Rowed water from the night, all signs are to begin soon Lena Pillars and I go the left side of the river, it’s time to move to the right, but the wind does not. When the wind is a little verse, Rushed through Lena closer to that wonder of the world. It was the sail in gusty wind and in the middle of the river near the raft put the mast to the Lena Pillars at the oars rowed a strong side wind.

I had to dock at the shore and put in place the mast. The wind was passing and I was under the rocks on the sail without knowing for what to catch, camera, camcorder or still control the sail, so it’s an unusual place that takes your breath away. Passing Lena Pillars again moved to the left side of the river, there were islands suitable for an overnight stay …

I got up very early to have enough time to pass Yakutsk, and the weather favored me. Wind nearly nebilo, but until I moved to the left side to the right I was almost eaten by mosquitoes, has forgotten in the rush to put on mosquito nets.

Was able to wear it only when he moved to the right side, one after the other ships came and I had to quickly rush without consequences. Had time, bitten in the trash cellar to Yakutsk, and they say in the same breath it was in the evening found a suitable island and stopped to rest.

Hooray! Yakutsk behind us, it’s about half way. For Yakutsk I got a nasty surprise for the weak and the hundreds of islands of which are very difficult to navigate, I have no navigator. The situation was exacerbated almost constantly blowing headwind and hard pressure from midge from which there is no salvation in the water or on land, at any time of the day. This is not counting the mosquitoes and biting flies are very harmful. Rowing constantly have a mosquito net in tight pants and jacket, buttoned all the zippers and mittens in the heat of about 40 degrees. When the body starts to overheat quickly take off all his clothes except for caps on insurance and throw myself into the water on the go. Briefly helps …

Part of the 4th. Approach to Tiksi

Zhigansk passed, I in the Arctic Circle and it is felt throughout. It was much colder here and needed a stove from cans drown her almost every day right on the raft. Clothes do not dry in the air and it looks like this is the only chance to dry it. How then stopped abruptly caught fish and I have squeezed rations. Wind constantly counter, go sail on the water, exhaust midge and limited rations, constantly hungry.

With a raft of almost losing my, sometimes I go for two days without rest, relieve the lungs “fainting” right on the raft, no other choice because the headwind so slow and I have to catch up to the Laptev Sea storms. Yet, with great efforts made it almost to the Cape Bykovskii and there decided to end the Lena saga.

Prior to Tiksi from the last stop across the isthmus that is about 10 km. Disassembled raft, packed it, and the most necessary things (everything else has given to local Aboriginal people) put the tent and waited for the guards, they should come to any violator of the border area, which is what happened. I was taken to the UAZ-on Border outpost where of course scolded and much help. Provided room and then taken to the raft and things in the airport.

Equipment. What was in the bags and backpacks? What clothes, removable, warm, utensils, tools, supplies?

Be sure to take PVC boots up to his chest, 3 different hats, including a warm, warm and simple socks, winter coveralls and other rags that do not mind, 2 mosquito net, fumitoks 2 packages (spiral), net, spinning with baubles, leashes, carbines, tees and spare fishing line, 2 x 30 mesh and photo and video camera with acc-mi, a solar panel for charging with adapteromi mob-ka, camcorder, camera down and batteries for the receiver and flashlights. Of course I take 2 tents, 2 mat, sleeping bag 2 and the cover on the frame raft. Sure to have a satellite map of the river, compass and binoculars. Kitchen Sets of primus gas and 35 cartridges and a set of dishes for one person. Required Kit for the raft, the stock ropes, wire, glue and other crap that can be useful in the campaign. And of course the 3 knives and hacksaws. And as always in a first aid kit, with a variety of drugs – without it or how.

Food. What were the products? Was there a plan for daily consumption?

Some kind of experience of single trips I already had and I was not much strain on the topic, how much of what to take a hike. At the 3-month campaign, and I relied fit at this time, I take 50 cans of corned beef spetsrezerv, 50 packs of biscuits, 2 kg of milk powder, egg powder 2 kg, 2 kg of rice, 2 kg semolina, buckwheat 2 kg, 3 kg vermicelli, 2 kg of onions for the first time, and 15 heads of garlic, dried garlic, spices, salt 3kg, 10 packs of tea, 4 kg sah-of sand and sugar substitute to force majeure, 4 liters of alcohol and 1 stick summer sausage. Plan daily consumption I’ve never been, I think it’s too much. Every day, all in different ways, weather, load, and of course the need for food. For lunch I had never specifically stand up, let myself only during forced parks.

What is in the raft? For what plans he created? Under what conditions?

First of all of course the raft. He conceived the fall of 2010, after the last stage of the Volga River from its source to Kstovo, where I live. For the record, the city is located 20 km from Nizhny Novgorod. The raft was built to cross the Pacific from Kamchatka to the coast of the American continent. Money for it in 2011 was not, so I decided to break in on the Lena River, with access to a large water. Bubbles booked in Nizhny Novgorod in the firm DECA. The rest is molded at home in the apartment. Freed from the furniture room and there gathered a raft. Frame made of polypropylene pipes.

Raft fully meets my needs, and I do not insist on it to someone suffered, to let them cut through the typhoon. Rowing standing, the most optimal for rowing long distances, and I use it, but I can on my raft and paddled sitting there it is stipulated. As for the disease, I would say bluntly, hurt not only the fingers, and the whole body, I’m not an astronaut, although they passed special training, too sick.

Source: Volnomu-Volya!

Translation: Google