Tag Archives: Baikal

To see the full photo gallery from this trip, look here.

This has been a very special experience to get to travel on the surface of the oldest and deepest lake in the world, containing 20% of the worlds freshwater

With global warming and droughts happening in many parts of the world this increases the significance of Lake Baikal to us all across the globe
This issue in itself highlights the importance of international cooperation and dependence for the overall good of the planet

Back in Irkutsk

Travelling 24 hours a day on the surface of this dynamic place of shamans, mystics, tremendous natural beauty and energy allows one to reflect on what is important in life
Pearing things down to what we can carry or pull helps focus on the essentials in life to survive

Taking a long walk in this remote and beautiful place allowed conversations from the sled to reflect on the great caravans of people such as Marco Polo travelling long distances over a long time

Back in Moscow

Those caravans of travellers, pilgrims, artisans,traders moving back and forth from Europe, through Central/ South Asia to the Far East allowed a great mixing of cultures, languages, new ideas/inventions, produce, resources
Travel in my mind is the best classroom for education, tolerance, respect and compassion for other cultures

It is time to build more bridges in today’s world and less walls

Travelling solo in Siberia and other remote places over the years without a knowledge of the local language gives me a greater respect for the challenges and hurdles that new emigrants and refugees bear on coming to a new country

Working medically in remote communities over the past 30 years has given me so much more insight to how lucky we are in the western world to have high quality health care and reasonably good access and how challenged the most vulnerable particularly in the rest of the world……

So thanks to all of you for following the expedition and hanging in

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Let’s see what the next year brings….

From Hobnails, Scellig and the rest of the team…..

To see the full photo gallery from this trip, look here.

Thanks to all the team members including Hobnails( feet and boots), Scellig the sled, Snowshoe the hare, Sally the stove, Tommy the tent, Freddy the food, Foxy the fuel and all the other support equipment for holding together to help bring the expedition to a conclusion

We look forward to receiving those drawings from all those kids and wanna be kids out there!

To see the full photo gallery from this trip, look here.

Had a lovely visit with friends and family of friends in Canada in Severobaikalsk on Day 23
Caught the 36 hour Irkutsk train at 10.20 pm
Time to rest this aging body, replenish the calories and reflect
A train in Siberia is no better place to do all of the above

Firstly I would like to thank family and friends, donors to Basic Health International Foundation for their great support and encouragement during this expedition and over the past 14 years since the foundation was established

Visiting family of Banff friends in Severobaikalsk

This expedition would not have happened and completed without the help of a large number of people including Katrin Becker who managed and set up the website
She helped immensely in keeping up the communications from such a remote location
Thanks also to Jim Parker for putting up with those any time of day calls from the ice

Thanks to MEC for their sponsorship and Icespikes for their support and their “Hobnails”

Thanks for technical support from the following:
Eugene, Anna, Evgeny,Rene(Siberia)

Clare O Leary, Mike O Shea, Gavin Hennigan (Ireland)

Elena Vandakurova, Kevin Vallaly, Ray Zahab, Serge Touchinski, Vitaly, Gil Grandahl, Hank van Weeldon, Steve Rothfels(meteorologist) ( Canada)

Transportation : Peter Schledermann (Canada)
Vincent Hanlon (Ireland)
Timur(Siberia)

And any other contributor that I may have forgotten

Thanks to the spirits of Baikal for allowing the team safe passage in this magical place

To see the full photo gallery from this trip, look here.

At 1.30 pm local time today on Day 23 of the Basic Health International Foundation Lake Baikal Expedition. Hobnails,Scellig and the rest of the team arrived at the northern tip of the lake!!

We are thrilled and humbled by the experience.

Will forward more information
and photos over the next few days.

Looking forward to meeting some locals friends and families of friends here in Severobaikalsk before taking the 36 hour train back to Irkutsk.

Thanks all for following.

Will continue to post until leave Siberia.

To see the full photo gallery from this trip, look here.

Long hard day.
Mixed conditions.
Good visibility.
Mix of sun and cloud.

Hobnails, Scellig and team made it to Severobaikalsk this evening.
A 37 km plus day.
Having a bite to eat and then catch some sleep for final day on ice tomorrow.
20 km approx to go !
Hope everybody is well.
Will send more information tomorrow.
Let’s see what tomorrow brings!
Thanks for following
Hobnails, Scellig and the team for BHI

To see the full photo gallery from this trip, look here.

Editor’s note: Bill is still out of cellphone range, so today’s post comes as an audio report.

How amazing snow temporarily shows our presence just like animal tracks

Until Bill gets back, please direct media inquiries to K.Becker, Mink Hollow Media hello@minkhollow.ca

Let’s see what tomorrow brings. 

Hobnails, Scellig, Snowshoe the Hare, and Bill

Editor’s note: Bill is still out of cellphone range, so today’s post comes as an audio report.

Day 8 ice formations

Until Bill gets back, please direct media inquiries to K.Becker, Mink Hollow Media hello@minkhollow.ca

Let’s see what tomorrow brings. 

Hobnails, Scellig, Snowshoe the Hare, and Bill

Editor’s note: Bill is still out of cellphone range, so today’s post comes as an audio report.

Sunrise Start

Until Bill gets back, please direct media inquiries to K.Becker, Mink Hollow Media hello@minkhollow.ca

Let’s see what tomorrow brings. 

Hobnails, Scellig, Snowshoe the Hare, and Bill

Editor’s note: Bill is still out of cellphone range, so today’s post comes as an audio report.

Until Bill gets back, please direct media inquiries to K.Becker, Mink Hollow Media hello@minkhollow.ca

Let’s see what tomorrow brings. 

Hobnails, Scellig, Snowshoe the Hare, and Bill