Trip to Kamchatka, 16-30 July 2004

We went to the "Kamchatka Kaleidoskope" tour organized by tourist firm "Kamchatka's Vision" .
The tour included many activities, including climbing to two volcanoes, three-day trip on a wild river,
sailing in Avacha Bay, and a concert of local Koryak people. We also went horse back riding
in the last two days. The weather has not been all that good most of the time, but in spite of this we saw  a lot.
We were specifically lucky with weather during our trip to the Avachinsky volcano. The trip overall
was great also due to the warm hearts of our guides from the "Kamchatka's Vision" tourist group.

Kamchatka is located at the far East part of Russia.

There are about 160 volcanoes and  29 of them are active. There are also about
400,000 people and dense population of brown bears, about 12,000.

We arrived to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskyi by the airline Transaero on a Boeing-767 from Moscow.

Trip to Mutnovsky volcano

We went to the "Kamchatka Kaleidoskope" tour organized by the tourist firm "Kamchatka's Vision" .
In this vehicle we went to the vicinity of the Mutnovsky volcano. It can go almost anywhere.

                                                                       White rhododendrons were covering the ground.

Our camp before going to Mutnovsky volcano.

We are getting closer to the caldera of the Mutnovsky volcano

It is really cool in the caldera of volcano Mutnovskyi: gases from underground and fumaroles
are hissing, a hot lake is boiling, and little geysers are flowing into a hot river.

Trip to Avachinskyi volcano

We went to the Avachinsky volcano, which is located close to the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
The two-hour drive was going mainly along a riverbed.

The neighboring Koryaksky volcano looked nice from far away. It trapped a cloud.

We arrived to the base camp, where we spent the night.

There were a number of cute animals - suslicks - around expecting handouts
from the  newly arrived tourists.

During the dinner.

In the evening we went for a walk. Weather was very nice. Koryaksky volcano is behind.

Avachinsky volcano looked great.

 The top of Avachinsky volcano zoomed. One can see the smoke at the top. 

President of the firm "Kamchatka's Vision" went with us for a walk.

We have seen many flowers between volcanic rocks

                                      Next morning we started ascent of the Avachinsky volcano and observed Koryaksky volcano
                                        in the morning light. Mountains are always beautiful in the morning.

On the way to the top of Avachinsky volcano. The difference in the height between the
base camp and the top of volcano is about one kilometer. Total elevation is 2,741 meters.

We have seen many views reminding us photos of Mars.

Another "Postcard from Mars"

Only few minutes left before the top ! The rope has been helpful for the last few feet.

We came along this path to the caldera.

Inside caldera of the volcano there is a hot solidified lava. It was a lake  not long ago, but
in 1991 a small eruption happened and filled it with hot solid lava.

The rim of the caldera is red, like on the picture.

The rim of the caldera.

People relaxing inside caldera.

The main fumarole is there, but we did not have time to come closer, because the weather
suddenly becomes worse.

We started to return back, it was very very windy and soon everything was covered by clouds.
It was not easy trip, but every member of the group reached the top. Probably, the curiosity
helped people with no special training to reach the top.

Trip to the Valley of Geysers

The Valley of Geysers is located far away from Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and we took special
helicopter tour there.

A view from the helicopter.

On the way we came close to the Karymsky volcano which erupts every 20 minutes or so.
We were unlucky and have not seen the eruption.

Very acid lake in the crater of the Maly Semiachik volcano. It is NOT  recommended to swim there or
even put anything in it.  A metal can dissolves there in a matter of hours.

A view from the helicopter.

The helicopter started to descend  into the gorge. We have seen one huge 
eruption from the air.

We left the helicopter and walked to see the Valley of Geysers.

The eruption of  one of the main geysers. It happens every 20-30 minutes.

 Same geyser.

On the way to other geysers we noticed bear tracks.

 Small geysers were everywhere and they erupted frequently.

Water in the river is always warm. Bears and other animals like this valley.

At the bridge.

More geysers.

There are a number of hot boiling mud pools.

Last glance to the Valley of Geysers.

Trip along the Bystraya River

We had three-day trip along the wild Bystraya river. The water in the river was very cold, but the boats
were substantial. Our main interest was to see a brown bears in the wild.

Lunch and drink before departure. Our nice guides, Sergei and Vadim are standing at the left.

Boats are ready for departure. And me too.

Our new friends from Siberia at the left and two guides at the right. (Sergei and Natasha).

On the river.

There were many wild irises along the banks.

Some waves and rapids.

Our first camp. We had a soup thick of salmon in the evening and hot salmon sandwiches
in the morning, and of course...

Bears came in the morning.

Two curious bears were wandering around the camp looking at us.

And we looked at them.

Our guides explained that these bears were teenagers whose mother was
probably killed by hunters. They had never seen people.

We had a nice trip along the river. This is a whole group. Alexey from Moscow (standing at the right)
is one who took best pictures of bears with his camera.

Some Other Activities in Kamchatka

One of days we went to sail along the Avacha Bay with a young but tough captain, who sailed on his boat to Canada
along the Northern passage. It was cold, windy, and raining, but the trip was very interesting.

Richard is balancing at the edge of the boat.

Three Brothers in the Avacha Bay.

On another day we went to see a concert of the local Koryak people. Their dancing reminds one
of the remote past and their singing reminds one of  seagulls in the Avacha Bay.

We had extra two days and decided to go horse back riding with another firm. Richard is standing
with our horses. My horse Sobachka (Doggy) is at the left. She was old and did whatever she
 wanted. I did not object.

We were riding along the local hills, first - slowly.

But galloping later. My horse liked to gallop. We had a good time.

We stopped for dinner and guides made fish soup for dinner, thick from salmon.