2005-01-23 - Helpful Yakuts
23 Jan, 05 - 22:53
GPS-pos: N67°28´ | E153°42´ | Alt: 11 M
January the 23rd today and nine days remaining before we once again head out into this unbearable cold. -44°F today, a slight southerly with a foggy morning, which cleared during the day.
Written by: Johan Ivarsson
´´I was both upset and worried!´´, the chief of the administration of Nalimsk told us during our visit a few days ago and then continued: ´´The story I am going to tell you, took place in the beginning of December, when two guys from the village had gone hunting along the Kolyma. They were only supposed to be away for a few days, but something must have gone wrong because they didn´t come back in time. I was very worried!?
The Chief laughed out loud. Then relaxed with a smile.
?But a week later they turned up like nothing had happened? , he exclaimed and continued with a laugh: ?I was so relived! But at the same time I was upset because they hadn´t returned as we´d agreed. So I started to lecture them, telling them how worried I´d been and I shouted at them: You are crazy!?
?You don´t know anything about being crazy? ,they shouted back and continued; ?You want to hear something crazy, listen to this, there´s two Swedish tourists skiing almost naked along the Kolyma from Zyryanka to Srednekolymsk and they´re living in a tent with no heating! Now, that is crazy!?
?I didn´t sleep well? ,the chief continued after another burst of laughter, ?until I heard that you´d arrived safely to Srednekolymsk. You know, we respect you people and admire you very much. For us, you´re heroes. But you should have better clothes.?
We´ve heard many stories like that during our time here in Srednekolymsk. We´ve understood that already during our time of skiing from Zyryanka to here, that we were the gossip of the river. In many hunters cabin there was a communication radio and every night at a certain time they turned it on to listen to the daily chat. I believe that the only thing they talked about during that month, was us.
´´No one here?´´ the chief continued after telling us this story: ´´?would do such a journey like you are, but we all understand how important it is and everyone around here wants to help you.´´
This couldn´t be more true. Everyone we meet wants to help us in one way or the other. Either they give us fish or meat. Or they want to show us on our maps where all the hunter cabins are located along the river, always pointing out exactly were we will find a good friend of theirs who will gives us food and shelter. We´ve even heard some rumors that hunters are going out to their cabins earlier than they´ve planned, only to be there and help us when we are passing by.
For example, one hunter came by our apartment yesterday on his way to his cabin, 150 kilometers away, just wanted us to make sure that we knew were he lived! As that wouldn´t be enough, the fact is, that the local government here have asked the hunters to set up camp earlier than normal along the Kolyma, to be able to assist us!
We´ve been able to gather a lot of valuable information the last week and even though we know this is going to be a tough month, I have to say that my motivation is growing stronger and stronger the closer we get to the day of departure. This is all thanks to all this wonderful and helpful people!
It´s really nice knowing that we will not be alone out there! |
