Photo credit: Viacheslav Karmanov for RBTH
“What is a man’s life like in the taiga? He is replete and content. And so were the Evenks in the taiga, too. They went from river to river and from mountain to mountain hunting the squirrel.” This is how an Evenk fairytale recorded by researchers in Siberia in 1931 begins.
If the taiga is an immense and abstract symbol of Siberia for much of the world, then for Siberians themselves it is both the forest and home. Ever since ancient times the native peoples have taken possession of its impenetrable spaces. In summer they would cross it on foot, riding horses or reindeer, while in the winter they would go hunting and wear special climbing skis with reindeer or elk skins attached to improve their grip and traction when climbing.
Despite the fact that many Siberians today live in cities and no longer hunt for food, a ski trip through the taiga still remains a popular pastime for peoples indigenous to the area, as well as Russians. Indeed, visiting the taiga can be a liberating experience. We have outlined a trip that will ease your fears of fleeing civilization in winter for the mysterious taiga.
Photo credit: Viacheslav Karmanov for RBTH
The taiga is one of the largest surviving woodlands in the world. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has included it on its Global 200 list, which includes forests deemed to be the most important for the preservation of the ecosystem.
It is not easy for average city dwellers to venture into the authentic, thick Siberian taiga on their own. By contrast, it is quite easy to get lost and freeze. That’s why we recommend going with “Sibirskie ekspeditsii” (Siberian Expeditions) from Novosibirsk and their team of professional guides and instructors.
Photo credit: Viacheslav Karmanov for RBTH
In winter, tourists often come to Kemerovo Region (a particularly popular destination is Sheregesh: from large Siberian cities, as well as Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Anait Agadzhanian, a tourist from Moscow, said the following after ski trip through the taiga with the “Sibirskie ekspeditsii” team:
“After some time my shoulders, which in Moscow only got worked on at the gym a few times per week, got used to a heavy and full backpack. Our group went forward and only the monotonous squeak of skis would break the absolute silence of the taiga. Why did I come here? To experience real Russian life? To try myself? To find out what I had lost in my home-work-home routine? The taiga is an amazing place, full of such bewildering energy that it could arouse the envy of all the Dalai Lamas in the world. You go forward and understand that you can go on, on and on like that, but the taiga will never end. You will never forget looking up at the heavens while lying in the snow, a space you can barely see because of the huge number of stars in the sky.”
If you still have doubts about whether it is worthwhile to go to Siberia in winter (to the taiga, Baikal or the Arctic North) and you fear that the cold might spoil the trip, remember a local saying: “A Siberian is not one who never gets frozen, but one who is dressed warm.”
This year you can join the “Sibirskie ekspeditsii” team on a ski trip through the Siberian taiga from March 2-9 (winter in Siberia lasts until at least April). For more details about the travel agency, the route, the instructors and the equipment needed, see their website: http://sibexpeditions.ru/expeditions-siberian-taiga/
The expedition “Skiing in the Siberian Taiga” begins in Novosibirsk, which can be reached by train or by plane from Moscow or St. Petersburg, in addition to many other large Russian cities. Novosibirsk is a major hub and there are daily flights.
From Novosibirsk, along with staff from Sibirskie ekspeditsii, the group will go to the village of Amaz (Luzhba station) in Kemerovo Region. The tour costs 30,000 rubles (about $485) with equipment, medical insurance, accommodation, meals and guides all included in the price. You are expected to get to Novosibirsk on your own.
Sibirskie ekspeditsii emphasizes safety. The group registers with the local Ministry of Emergency Situations before each trip and is equipped with an Iridium satellite connection, which works even in the thickest Siberian taiga.
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