2004-09-28 - Worries!
28 Sep - 16.45
N 64°44;06.5 and E 153°01;41.9.
Sunny, -3°C to -7°C, Strong winds from SE 10 to 12 m/s
Written by Johan Ivarsson
I´ve just made my way back inside the warm and cozy cot after we´ve checked and fetched the fishing nets in an inlet on the other side of a stormy Kolyma. A work that is freezing cold for the fingers. The temperature outside is now around -3°C but strong and icy winds up to 10 to 12 m/s makes the actual temperature far lower, around -15°C and to be able to check the nets we had to break through a layer of thin ice.
While the wind is whirling around the tent Mikael is still outside by
the fire grilling some fillets from yesterdays successful hunt, 2 hares, as one of them which will be tonight´s dinner.
As you understand by the low temperature, winter has arrived. The last three days we´ve had temperature´s below zero all the time, during the nights as low as -10°C. This makes us a bit worried regarding whether we will be able to reach Zyryanka in time or not. What we fear is that we´ve stayed to long at this camp. It will take us four days of demanding paddling to reach Zyryanka, but if the temperature keeps falling during the nights, we might not get there in time before the ice will cover the Kolyma! And if the wind will stay as strong as it is right now, we won´t be able to paddle at all!
This is the situation we fear the most. It´s impossible to know when and if there will be any change in weather. And even harder to know how when ice is making paddling impossible. We don´t worry that the main stream of the river will be freezing up yet, but the problem is that it might be very difficult, if not impossible, to find a place to camp if the sides of the river starts to freeze, and we can´t keep on paddling during the nights!
Despite this worry, there´s no doubt that this is the weather and state of the nature we prefer. Even if fingers are stiff, the surroundings are really spectacular! The snow makes the days clear and clean and lights up the dark evenings. The best part of the cold though, is probably the possibility to stay outside and enjoy everything without mosquitoes, small flies or gnats making life a misery! |
