After nearly a year of planning and anticipation, I'm off to Russia today via Seoul Korea to paddle in the eastern Sayan Mountains. Before this trip I knew nothing about these peaks and for the past 10 months, I've been researching this area getting psyched on the trip.
The cool thing about this area is that it's hardly seen any exploration. It's in the middle of know where!!! It also has several tributaries that have seen no descents so along with completing the first full descent of the Onot, we're planning on paddling the tributaries.
In order to pull off a trip like this, many things need to come into play. First and foremost, someone needs to know the area, speak the language and have a background in paddling and logistics. This is what Tomass Marnics specializes in . His company, Kayaking Siberia, specializes in padding rivers all around Russia. Tomass is also a bad ass kayaker and is on Team Adidas so the trip, and the preparatory logistics were taken on by him.
We're also planning on paddling the Kitoy and Biluti rivers which are in the region. They too require a carry in so it's more hiking with kayaks on our backs.
For the past few weeks I've been doing laps on Cherry Creek running every line out there prepping for the trip. Cherry Creek is a fun run on the Tuolumne River. It's super classic and definitely a fun day outing. The only drawback is since the Rim Fire last year, the road is shut to only 1 shuttle system and they charge $20 per kayaker...gotta pay to play. Also it's dam released which means good water but a short time to paddle. One early off early leaving lots of camp time to fish, swim and party. The partying gets old after a while for sure and having enough of that, I took full advantage of the paddling.
So...here I sit in Venice Beach California surfing, hanging and getting ready to fly out. Next stop Irkutsk!!!
I'll do some more updates as things develop
Cheers :)
