Kamchatka 2003

Kamchatka Album »

The Kamchatka Peninsula lies in the icy far eastern region of Russia. We began our journey early one cold morning in the capital city of Petropavlosvsk. Over the next three weeks, we paddled 650 kilometers northward to the town of Ust-Kamchatsk. Along the way, we passed snow-covered volcanoes (some active, some dormant) and enjoyed bathing in the occasional hot spring. On the water, we saw orcas, leopard seals, and sea otters. Grizzly bears were on hand to greet us after we made our way to the beach through two-meter surf. At one point, soldiers of the Russian Army detained us while they checked our permits and papers.

Expedition members: Justine Curgevnen, a British paddler; Alexei Sitnikov, a Kamchatkan rafting guide; and Hadas Feldman of Terra Santa