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Walking Grades and Fitness
Grading is a somewhat difficult topic as much depends on the
individuals own perception of his or her abilities. The following
is intended as a general guide to our grading system. The levels
of difficulty are divided into categories B/C/D. Although the
trekking is not at great altitude, it occasionally traverses
rough terrain and involves some long days and steep climbs.
Grade B walks (Moderate): are for those of any fitness
level who are able to traverse moderately hilly terrain. Walking
is limited to day excursions from a central location to which
you will be transported. These day hikes are normally no more
than 6 hours in duration and all walking may be done with no
backpack or with a light day pack.
Grade C walks (Strenuous): are for the more serious hill
walker and a higher level of physical fitness is required. However,
no special physical preparations should be needed. Walking days
are normally 6-8 hrs and may involve up to 900m of ascent and
descent. You should be prepared for several consecutive days
of walking, sometimes at higher altitudes, so stamina is important.
However, occasionally rest days in the course of the trek will
be included.
Grade D walks (Tough): require that you are very fit
and previous trekking experience is strongly recommended. Grade
D includes long walks with steep uphill and downhill gradients.
There will be some hiking at high altitudes (up to 4000m) and
corresponding cold weather conditions. These treks will also
involve several long days (up to 8-9 hours) of trekking continuously
without a rest day. |
#104.Viewing sea mammals and birds on the Komandorsky
Islands.
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SEASON: June 15th
- September 15th
Departure 2008: upon request.
GRADE B.
Group size - up to 8 pax. |
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 These
are some of Russia’s most exotic islands, and the first of the
Aleutians. Home to the naturally unafraid Blue Fox, who will try his
best to steal your lunch. Covered with mushrooms and berries and teeming
with colonies of sea lions, seals, sea otters and hovering seabirds,
this is a truly memorable trip.
The Komandorsky Islands are the most Western of the volcanic Aleutian
islands, although they are
included in Kamchatka state territory. They consist of two large islands
- Bering Island, (named after the famous explorer of the same name
who perished and lies buried here), and Medny Island- and several
smaller satellites. From Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky the islands are
generally reached by airplane or helicopter. There are abundant rookeries of sea lions, seals and sea otters; some 7,800
sea mammals inhabit the North rookery of Bering Island from April through
November. The bird colonies
on the island coasts include seagulls, guillemot, cormorants, and
puffins. These islands are carpeted in shaggy rainbow shades of tundra
- a boundless heathland that invites the visitor to ramble and discover.
You may however, come across dwarf birch or aspen trees.
Beginning
in the middle of August the tundra becomes sprinkled with edible mushrooms:
white, brown and orange cap boletus. A smorgasbord of berries grow
here too - great for snacking on the run. Many different species of
salmon (red salmon, pink salmon) fill the rivers and streams of the
islands during spawning season; from the middle of June till the middle
of October. In Sarannoe Lake on Bering Island you can witness a massive
sockeye spawning-ground, which takes place from the middle of July
up to the middle of September. Air temperature on the Komandorsky
islands in summer is rarely higher than 12 C (55 F), and weather changes
are never very far away.
9 DAY ITINERARY
 Day 1. Arrive in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Transfer
from the airport to a hotel. Preparing for the trip. Welcome dinner
in a city restaurant.
Day 2. Drive to the old Even settlement Esso. Accommodation in private
apartments. Welcome dinner with private Even
folk concert.
Day
3. Helicopter flight to the Komandorsky Islands (Bering Island) over the
Kluchevskoy chain of volcanoes and the sea cost of the Kamchatka peninsula
and the Pacific ocean. Overnight accommodation is not far from the rookery
of wild mammals. Excursion to the Northern
seal rookery.
Day 4. Helicopter flight to the site of the Vitus Bering expedition
catastrophe. Excursion to Vitus Bering's grave. View tundra flowers
and bushes. Fly to the Buyan Bay and view deposits of the semiprecious
stones.
Day 5. Fly to salmon spawning grounds in Sarannoe Lake. View
spawning sockey salmon and tundra lakes. Pick mushrooms and berries.
Day 6. Flight to the Northwest rookery. View sea-lions, seals,
sea otters and polar blue foxes. Overnight not far from the rookery.
Day 7. Fly to Nikolskoe settlement. Excursion to its History/Ethnography
museum. Flight to Esso settlement (on the Kamchatkan peninsula) and drive to
Milkovo. Overnight accommodation in a private house.
Experienced Russian sauna (Banya).
Day 8. Return to Paratunka resort. Accommodation in hotel.
 Day 9. City tour. Departure.
Cost EUR3400 per person.
Price includes:
- Full
board
- Double accommodation in hotels in city, Paratunka resort and apartments
- Tents
- English-speaking rep at the arrival and departure in the PKC airport
- Transfers by coach and helicopter MI-8
- City tour and museum entrance
- Guide, interpreter and cook services
- Komandorsky Reserve fees
- Visa invitation and visa registration
- Permits
Questions?
Interested in booking a trip? See here for answers
to frequently asked questions and here for
more Kamchatka pictures, click here for
booking details or ask your questions here.
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