The Expedition "Yakutia"

The expedition of Gerhard Hampel and Viktor Simonov was successfully completed on April 2, 2003 in Yakutsk. In a month the team on two dog sleds had covered more than 1800 km along the route Tiksy – Verkhoyansk – Yakutsk.

After the start at the coast of the Arctic ocean on April 1, 2003 the team on two dog sleds crossed several climatic and geographical zones: polar tundra, Siberian mountains, taiga of the Central Yakutiya. The explorers made a crossing over the Verkhoyansky ridge and passed via one of the coldest areas on the Earth. A part of the route followed over the ice of the great Siberian Rivers Yana and Lena.

The explorers had the objectives to get acquainted with the nature of the East Siberia, a mode of life of local citizens, culture traditions, to facilitate a rebirth of the forgotten ancient skills of travelling on dog sleds in Siberia and Yakutia. Gerhard Hampel and Viktor Simonov visited several national Yukut settlements Naiba, Ust-Kuiga, Batagai, Suordakh, Sebyan-Kuel, Batamai, where they actually saw the customs and traditions of local citizens.

Participants:

Gerhard Hampel, 54, citizen of Germany. Professor, Doctor of Medicine. The author and the leader of the project. Since 1993 Gerhard Hampel has organized many dog sled expeditions: along the eastern coast of the Baffin Land, Canada (1997), Swedish Lapland (1998-2001); the expedition over the Canadian North-West Territories (2002).

Viktor Simonov, 37, citizen of Karelia. Russia. Deputy Dean of the Ecological Department of the State Pedagogical University of Karelia. Experienced ski traveler, the leader of numerous outdoor tours and expeditions. In the Adventure Club he acts as a deputy director of the Youth Ecological Camp Great Adventure.

The Expedition is carried out under support:

• Royal Canin Russia Company;
• The Yakutiya Airlines.