F.A.C.T. - a joint project of Baikalplan and GBT
100km-Trekking Adventure in Siberia
The beauty of Northern Lake Baikal is vast and unique: snow- covered, jagged mountain ranges, the huge, yet shallow delta of the Verkhne Angara river and the sheer infinity of Siberian taiga seaming the coastline of the oldest and deepest lake of the world. Almost the entire North-East of Lake Baikal is a nature reserve, beginning from the most northern Verkhne Angara Nature Reserve to the Frolinski Nature Reserve down to Bargusinski Nature Reserve. There are no roads, no railway and no villages. To discover this wilderness means to leave civilization behind you and cross Lake Baikal by boat.
Both aspects, nature conservation and the operose travel conditions are the main reasons to explore, develop and organise our first long distance hiking trail project as part of our Great Baikal Trail activities. Now, in summer 2009, we are ready to head off for F.A.C.T - the Frolikha Adventure Coastline Track. We have aimed high from the very beginning to tie up all experience and to propose a catalogue of measures either to the Russian administration, and our partner organisation GBT assoc.
After three years of intense exploration, discussion and coordination, we now can implement the project. In July 2009, about 20 volunteers of the German Baikalplan assoc. and the Russian GBT assoc. blazed the trail, cut off some heavy brush along its route and secure dangerous parts.
F.A.C.T. - The first long distance trail of Northern Lake Baikal - a description from North to South:
Starting point - the ranger station
The long distance trail is about 100km long and starts from the ranger station of the Verkhne Angara Nature Reserve, follows endless sandy beaches, rests in real bay paradises, climbs steep cliff lines, makes a loop to the Frolikha lake from its deepest bay called Ayaya (the "very, very beautiful bay") and ends in the relaxing atmosphere of the hot springs in Khakussy. Mostly the trail exactly follows the coastline, but some parts also lead deep into the Taiga forests or test your bouldering qualities.
Frolikha - the river which gave the name to the trail
Halfway through and after crossing some smaller creeks now and then, you will soon face the (deep) delta of the Frolikha river, which stretches about 65m from one to the other end. Embedded in huge marshes, your only choice will be to cross the river. The easiest way to do that is surely by a small (inflatable) boat you carry with you, even more thrilling - and moreover a "weight watcher's" delight - is to built a raft. However you manage this part, don't forget a rope to get back your means of transport - currency is not very strong, but also nothing to be sneezed at.
Ayaya Bay (the "very, very beautiful bay")
Next of the highlights is the deepest and coldest bay at Lake Baikal. To get there, you must cope with the most difficult part of the entire trail. Bouldering across huge ragged rocks directly above, sometimes almost in the lake, you will need sure footedness, concentration, time and patience. In exchange you will soon get to one of the most beautiful places at Lake Baikal with a most impressive panorama, a wonderful sandy beach and the chance to make a detour to Lake Frolikha, which is (at least) a 5km-hike into the mountains. This lake is not only renowned for its unique position amidst beautiful scenery, but also for its endemic biodiversity. Some species to be found have not changed since the ice age, e.g. the Davatshan fish.
The hot springs of Khakussy
The last stage of the tour will not only lead you to the most beautiful and cosy camping-site of the trail, but first of all to the hot springs of Khakussy, which is a place with some small huts and lodges. Is there some better place to rest after 100km hiking adventure, but in hot springs? Even beer is served to cool down after an exhausting hike. Not yet tired from hiking? No problem: You will either have the chance to visit the caves of Cape Khaman Kit, or the "singing dunes" of Cape Turali, or the small Evenk settlement even further in the South. Getting back to Severobaikalsk is no problem during summer season: You will simply take the regular boat between Khakussy and Nishne-Angarsk.
Shortly we will add a detailed trail description as well as the GPS-Track for downloading.
F.A.C.T. - supported by:
 Hewlett-Packard GmbH Link |
 Intercomp Global Services Link |
