Captain of the Yacht Peter I

Captain of the Yacht Peter I

Sailing Neva river

Sailing Neva river

Are you still thinking that the streets of Russian cities are full of dancing bears with balalaikas, and the men drink vodka, sitting under the Christmas trees? Well you are almost right.

To see the proof with your own eyes make sure to visit the most northerly in the world regatta “Adventure Race 80 degrees”. A real Russian safari is waiting for you: polar bears and rough sailors, ancient villages and churches of the Russian North, ice and land, that have almost never been touched by human hands. But most importantly – the extreme race in the highest latitudes.

You’ve probably heard about the record-breaking voyage of the Russian yacht “Peter I”. (more…)

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Two pictures only, but they are definitely worth to see.

Vladimir Potapov during his snowmobile expedition to the Arctic zone of Yakutia, Siberia, Russia. Early November 2011.

Vladimir Potapov during his snowmobile expedition in the Arctic zone of Yakutia, Siberia, Russia. Early November 2011.

More about 2011 Arctic Snowmobile Expedition to Laptev Sea in Yakutia, Siberia / Russia.

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A Russian boat RUS in Clyde River, Nunavut. Photo by CBC.ca

A Russian boat RUS in Clyde River, Nunavut. Photo by CBC.ca

Adventure enthusiasts from the Russian city of Ivanovo were reported to be the first sailers, who have crossed the Polar Circle on an air-inflated trimaran. It happened on Aug. 5th, 2011. Last Satuday, their boat called “Rus” have already made it to the Clyde River in Nunavut, Canada.

When Canadians saw their strange-looking 7.6-metre trimaran, they called it as a homemade boat “made out of bamboo, rope and duct tape.”

Here is what CBC.ca wrote:

“Absolutely fascinating. I’ve never seen the likes of it in my life,” said Constable Rolland Lavoie, who’s with the RCMP in Clyde River. “I would expect that a trip of this sort to be on a huge cruise boat, something huge, but this is something out of Gilligan’s Island, for crying out loud. Very Interesting.”

Ok. Who are these Russian sailers?

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Adventure Race 80dg Yacht Regatta in Russian Arctic

I’ve heard about the Adventure Race 80dg Ecological Sailing Regatta before, but I didn’t expect that the Finish yacht “Lena”, one of regatta participants, will continue traversing along the Russian Arctic heading to… guess where… right… to the Lena Delta and Tiksi. In other words, Finish sailers will reach my area called the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Moreover, they plan to go upstream and make it to Yakutsk, where I live! Cool!

Meanwhile, enjoy photographs of Franz Josef Land Archipelago, Russian Arctic, brought by RusArc’s Petr I yacht crew.

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The 2011 Uummannaq Polar Institute Summer Expedition. To the North of Greenland.

The 2011 Uummannaq Polar Institute Summer Expedition. To the North of Greenland.

Aaaaa, it’s my big honour to be one of Ole Jorgen Hammeken‘s many friends. He is the most recognizable Greenlandic man, who attracts the world’s attention to Greenland, its people and climate issues.

It were him and his wonderful wife, who run together Uummannaq Children’s Home in the settlement called Uummannaq.

It was them, who host Galya Morrell and Joel Spiegelman‘s Uummannaq Music project.

Certainly, they are those people, who share Uummannaq Polar Institute‘s vision, i.e. to conserve Greenland’s local culture and promote educational programs for young Inuit people.

UPI was founded in 2007 by Ann Andreasen and was inaugurated in 2008 by HSH the Prince Albert II of Monaco, Jean Malaurie, a distinguished French ethnographer, and by Arthur Chilingarov, polar explorer and Vice-President of the Russian Parliament.

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Hiking, trekking to Mount Narodnaya, Ural Mountains, Russia, in winter of 2010. Photo by Maciej Besta

Hiking, trekking to Mount Narodnaya, Ural Mountains, Russia, in winter of 2010. Photo by Maciej Besta

Hiking, trekking to Mount Narodnaya, Ural Mountains, Russia, in winter of 2010. Photo by Maciej Besta

Four Polish students, including my friend, Maciej Besta, completed the 1st Polish hiking (trekking) expedition up to Mount Narodnaya, the highest peak of Russia’s Ural Mountains (1,894 metres /6,214 ft), in winter 2011.

Closer to the peak, the temperature was minus 40 degrees Celcius.

Further, see 45 cold winter photographs taken by Maciej Besta and the text written by Luba Suslyakova, who runs the blog AskUral.com. Maciej Besta is our common friend.

Last summer, by the way, Maciej hiked across Chersky Range in Yakutia. And it’s him in the cold photo of Deant du Geant Glacier. He is a member of a Polish Travel Club.

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Snowy winter holidays in Helsinki, Finland. Picture by Piero Damiani.

Snowy winter holidays in Helsinki, Finland. Picture by Piero Damiani.

On the web, especially on twitter, I see often people complaining about the cold weather and winter. In a Washington DC forum one lady asked, if there were other cold admirers, and she immediately got replies like, “Are you nuts?!”

My god, how is it possible not to love the cold? Especially when the cold weather is not extreme, mild and snowy as it is in Helsinki.

Take a look at Piero Damiani’s winter street photographs taken during this month’s holidays in Helsinki, Finland. Awesome! True wonderland to dream about!

See more snowy pictures. (more…)

A Polish climber, Maciej Besta, on Deant du Geant Glacier in December 2010. Click the photo to enlarge.

A Polish climber, Maciej Besta, on Deant du Geant Glacier in December 2010. Click the photo to enlarge.

I have a Polish friend of mine, Maciej Besta, who is a climber, mountain trekker, hiker and… student. Last summer he and his friend trekked the Chersky Range in Yakutia, Siberia/Russia. A great fellow, who loves expeditions at the unknown, less explored or off-beaten places.

In December of 2010, he was trekking across Deant du Geant Glacier. Take a look at the above picture. Great, isn’t it? Looks extremely cold and like a great challenge. My god, wish to do the same one day!

Just in a couple of month, Maciej completed the hiking expedition to Mount Narodnaya, the highest peak of the Ural Mountains, Russia.

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Winter holidays in Stockholm, Sweden. Street pictures by Piero Damiani.

Winter holidays in Stockholm, Sweden. Street pictures by Piero Damiani.

I have a friend in Australia. His name is Piero Damiani and he is a big fan of cold weather. Every winter (in northern hemisphere) he spends holidays in cold regions. Last times he was travelling across Canada and North-Western Europe.

Here is the list of previous posts with Piero Damiani‘s gorgeous winter pictures:

- ColdUnited Flickr Pick: -42C in Yellowknife, Canada;
- Photos: Traveling through the winter cold – Edmonton, Canada;
- Traveling through the winter cold – Jasper, Canada;
- Traveling through the winter cold – Reykjavik, Iceland.

By the way, Piero is an active member of the Flickr community. All latest photographs might be found in his photostream.

This winter he is exploring Scandinavia, a beautiful land of magic, but mild European winter. The first stop, if I am correct, was Stockholm, Sweden. You know, it’s hard to follow him, as he is a fast traveller.

Further, please, find his pictures of winter holidays in Stockholm, Sweden taken on January 4-5, 2011. Awesome, aren’t they?

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Russian winter in Moscow. Photographs by Olga Boiko.

Moscow is celebrating New Year and Orthodox Christmas now. How does the major Russian city look in winter? It is festive, snowy and… Well, you’d better look at Olga Boiko’s splendid photographs of the magic Russian winter. (more…)

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