Same as the above image was on the announcement for international climbing festival in Ergaki. Love at first sight. Organizers were asking just for a sport CV and they will cover all costs for the selected participants. Too good to be true. I sent the email but without any expectation. Four months later the organizers wrote me back to check if I am still interested. Hell yes!
But where is Ergaki!?
3 hours of flight from Belgrade to Moscow, 1715 km,
plus 6 hours of flight from Moscow to Krasnoyarsk, 3353 km,
plus 6 hours of bus ride from Krasnoyarsk to Abakan, 411 km,
and plus 6 hours of bus ride from Abakan to Ergaki, 205km.
Finally we arrived to our destination, Ergaki nature park, western Sayan Mountains. Beauty of this place is completely unreal and whenever I said that thought loud there was someone to tell me more mysteries about the ancient civilizations that this remote place holds for centuries. Here I will show more technical side of spending longer time in wilderness and less nature beauty.
Accommodation - the first thing we usually think of when travel
We went trough three different campings. On the first image is our 5 star hotel. Rain was falling every day but sometimes not for the whole day. In this region was impossible to set up tents because of the swampy ground and organizers built this platforms.
During the official time we slept near a climbing site. The view was not wide but stone creation is terrific. As the time passed by, I started to believe in all myths. :)
And next image is all about a thousand stars hotel. :D
Eating - maybe you can't see the diversity in accommodation but check the kitchens
The ceremonial opening requires a gala lunch. Smoking vehicle is the place where the food was prepared and it also had a place for eating.
After the official feast, we moved to our improvised cook tent for the next four weeks.
Activities - or what we were doing there
One of the weirdest openings I witnessed in the middle of nowhere but all the voices and dresses that were dancing with wind was impressive.
The main part of this event was a sport climbing competition. It was really interesting to see the climbers from a different part of world and their specific climbing styles. Especially contrast between Americans and Russians. In one sentence, Americans are better sportsmen, in better shape, but for Russians there is no bad weather. On next image you can see the lady with umbrella, she is judging despite the rain falling. The rock was slippery but for some climbers not a problem.
After the competition was finished we moved to our next destination and traditional alpinistic climbing that I prefer. The rain was also falling every day but somehow we get used to it and did our plans.
Transport
As we were moving around with a lot of equipment and food and places are not close or easy to reach, the question of transport is important. Some transports were done by vehicles, some with horses but mainly on our backs.
Walking path, even when it was straight, with this roots network was like climbing up the stairs. Exhausting and long lasting.
Hygiene - always a tricky question
Water was clean but also very cold, whether it was from a spring or a glacier. It was a same place where you taking water for drinking or washing - so, detergents STOP!
I have to admit that I skipped swimming in the lake with ice, so sauna was organized. When we moved to spring lake I got use to its temperature (few degree higher than water from lake from ice melting).
Socializing
I really like to meet people in this environment. Everyone is with open hearts and wide smiles. Next image is just before our first meeting, an easy morning chat on the balcony.
Afternoon coffee break.
Evening parties - if it was raining we had an inside performing, if not we got together around a fire. But the Russian songs and vodka were the constant!
Equipment
Well... It can be summed up with one wise saying - there is no bad weather only bad equipment. I wasn't prepared well, although it wasn't my first longer camping. It was just too different from a camping in my country. If you ever go to Ergaki - don't forget plastic boots and a mosquito-protection! :D
View - when the dream came true
Hope you enjoyed in my photos and writings. Thanks to everyone who came to the end.
My curtsy.