|
||||||||
 |
On May 15, Heather and Brandon Nelson left the comforts of San Francisco for an incredible journey. The goal is to paddle around the earth's largest lake. It seems simple enough, just paddle for the three months straight and your done. But if it was that simple, people would be doing it all the time. The largest lake though is tucked way up in Siberia; making the journey to the lake an incredible one as well.
Brandon and Heather hope to hit the water on June 1 and paddle for the next three months exploring every inch of the 1,245 miles of shoreline on Lake Baikal. The main goal of the trip is to create awareness for Lake Baikal as paddling destination in the hopes of making eco-tourism a viable industry. Currently the region is supported by heavy industrial activities creating a large amount of pollution.
The Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Plant continues to spew toxins into the air and water at a daily rate in the thousands of gallons. Potentially worse is a proposed network of gas, oil and fresh water pipelines to export Siberia's natural resources to points in China. Local populations will see little profit from this project, as skilled workers will be imported for construction and maintenance, and Russian and Chinese governments will reap nearly all the profits from sales.
The Journey to the Adventure
While there was months of preparation, the true test was showing up at the airport with all their gear and 120lbs of luggage:
"At the advice of my buddy, Scott, we're bringing our 17-foot-long sea kayaks, along with the other 120 pounds of gear, to the airport where we'll demand they be checked as regular luggage. (Scott: "Dude, I've checked two Chevy Avalanches to Tibet! I just checked a Honda Element! I've checked 13 whitewater kayaks on my ticket alone...granted, I paid four thousand dollars in excess baggage fees...You just can't take 'NO' for an answer!") So that's what we're doing. ("And don't waste your time trying to call ahead," warned Scott. "It allllll comes down to the person you check in with!") ......um"
May 18
May 23
The Adventure
More about the journey at http://www.chargelife.com/
Around Baikal 2003
An Introduction
====================
Take two 17' kayaks bound for Russia, mix in a few long flights and a train ride and add in a language barrier and you have some great stories to tell the grandkids!
"We made it, boats included, to Moscow. A hefty fee in San Francisco, as promised, got the kayaks on board and they were waiting for us when we cleared immigration. Problem is, one of our three 30kg gear bags has vanished. It contains our clothes and the laptop, among other things. If it's gone for good, we DO have the gear we would need to complete the expedition, with a shopping spree thrown in before we hit the water. We'll keep you posted on it. "
88 hours on a train. What else is there to say? Heather and Brandon reached Irkutsk and found their boats and their missing bag have already found their way there ahead of them.
==========
©Copyright 2007 Paddling.net, Inc. (View Privacy Policy)
Questions, Additions or Corrections please contact us.