Siberia Blog

URPP GCB Siberia Blog 2013

The last leg (almost)

28. June 2013 | Inge Juszak | 2 Kommentare |

by Inge Juszak

Chokurdakh, June 28, 2013

Today we took the last plane of our journey to the research site, from Yakutsk to Chokurdakh. Compared to the flights from Zurich and Moscow this one was a real adventure in an Antonov AN- 24 PB with about 30 people and a lot of cargo.
From Zurich (Switzerland) to Chokurdakh (Russian Federation) (Map: Google Earth)

From Zurich (Switzerland) to Chokurdakh (Russian Federation) (Map: Google Earth).

 

 

The airplane (it seems it is still the same since the first Siberia expedition in 2008 and many years before) is said to be robust, and keeps on going since decades. For those avionic freaks amongst you, check out the details for this Antanov AN-24!

Loading the aircraft on the taxiway in Yakutsk is a 'do it yourself' job ... (Photo: I. Juszak, June 2013)

Loading the aircraft on the taxiway in Yakutsk is a ‘do it yourself’ job … (Photo: I. Juszak, June 2013).

 

 

We were really lucky, the weather was great and we could see the Lena river, two mountain ranges, the taiga and the tundra with huge, partly still ice-covered lakes. I was most lucky as I had a window seat, so I stopped taking photos just for the lunch.
Chrebet mountain range as seen from the air between Yakutsk and Chokurdakh (Photo: I. Juszak, June 2013).

Chrebet mountain range as seen from the air between Yakutsk and Chokurdakh (Photo: I. Juszak, June 2013).

 

 

Landing in Chokurdakh was beautiful, we could see the last trees, little lakes, streams and the polygonal structure of the permafrost.
Approaching Chokurdakh airport (IATA: CKH, ICAO: UESO), still 46 m above sea level (Photo: I. Juszak, June 2013).

Approaching Chokurdakh airport (IATA: CKH, ICAO: UESO), still 46 m above sea level (Photo: I. Juszak, June 2013).

 

 

At the airport grimy looking soldiers and airport officers kept me from taking pictures of the humpy air stripe or the firemen waiting in their  cars with running engines, just in case something would happen. In Chokurdakh we are the main attraction and luckily Ivan from Wladiwostok is here and translates what happens.

At the moment we are waiting until we can leave for Kytalyk. I saw the tiny boats already, and I wonder how we can fit all the luggage, our instruments we send by post weeks ago and ourselves. The weather is still beautiful and I’m looking forward to the boat trip.
Unloading the baggage, again a DIY job (Photo: G. Schaepman-Strub, 2008)

Unloading the baggage, again a DIY job (Photo: G. Schaepman-Strub, 2008).

 

 

Finally, arrival at the final air destination. Further travel is by boat to the test site in Kytalyk.

House in Chokurdakh (Photo: G. Schaepman-Strub, 2010).

House in Chokurdakh (Photo: G. Schaepman-Strub, 2010).

 

 

Leaving Chokurdakh by boat on the Indigirka river (Photo: G. Schaepman-Strub, 2010)

Leaving Chokurdakh by boat on the Indigirka river (Photo: G. Schaepman-Strub, 2010).

 

 

We will be coming back to you once installed on the site. From now on, communication will be sparser, since we use a satellite phone with limited bandwidth to stay in contact.

Abgelegt unter: The first days


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2 Kommentare vorhanden

  • 1 Dennis // Jun 29, 2013 at 08:31

    I see you are close to your holiday-, erh, field site again! The journey looks immense and imposing, scary & awesome at the same time. All the best to y’all & Danish hugs!

  • 2 pvollenweider2012 // Jun 29, 2013 at 09:40

    these enormous Siberian rivers (Lena, Indigirka, Kolyma) remind me of the three “Gulag” books by Alexander Solschenizyn. Peter