Diary of Mountain Tourism: 4th day

July 21, 1981

This was the first nice morning after multiple gloomy and rainy mornings. We decided to go for two-day hiking. We left the half finished hostel, where it was possible to break one's neck in matter of fact, and our journey started.

We had dressed warmly as it was quite cloudy, but still after 20 minutes of walking we started to remove one piece of clothing after another. We took a break at one interesting place, which is connected to local folk story. There are colorful ribbons in the pine trees around the healing spring. People tied these ribbons hoping their wishes will come true. The sight is truly colorful and variegated.

After a long walk uphill we made an other stop at a waterfall. We had to go up stairs to see the waterfall. There was a bridge over the river right in front of the waterfall. It was a perfect place for taking photos. Cliffs were disrespectfully and tastelessly painted with colorful signs and words.

Our path went steep uphill after the waterfall. The look down to Arshan was magnificent. We crossed Kyngyrga river multiple times, sometimes by using ropes. Sometimes I got a really unpleasing feeling when I looked down at the rapids and restless stream. For the night we stayed in midway between Arshan and mountain-pass. For dinner we had nicely smelling tea from the herbs growing all around us.

Regīna

Diary of Mountain Tourism: 3rd day

July 20, 1981

The first night, when we were so close to the nature, was wonderful. Baikal rustled quietly and raindrops started to fall closer to the morning. It was warm in the tend and sleeping there was quite comfortable, but, unfortunately, we had to get up as it was our turn stay on guard.

We had planned to leave for Arshan today. There had to be a spa with hotsprings, a hostel and, of course, beautiful nature. In the morning, rain was falling nonstop, so we had to eat cold breakfast. While we were eating, we were talking about what to do as we had no tickets for the bus.

"Gentlemen" from neighbour group, Juris and Zigis, walked to Slyudyanka once again to meet the boss of bus station, then auto bases cheif, after that - Chief of Party Committee. Matter gets solved easily at so high level and they provided us with a special bus. But while we packed our tents and got there on time, bus had taken in other passangers and was long as gone. We called local government and again waited while they and bus traffic controller got the buss to return and pick us as well.

At last we were on our way! After three hours of driving by rivers, little villages, where they grow  potatoes at the best case, but mostly weeds, we arrived at Arshan.

We didn't know where we would stay for the night. Hostel was in process of being reconstructed and it was raining. We got an advice to go to the hostel anyway and talk with workers there. Maybe they will let us stay there for the night. They generosity was equal to the amount of alcohol we provided and they let us stay. We got comfy and started to prepare the dinner on improvised workers' stove, which could give us a deadly electric shock any moment. We finished our meal and went to sleep.

Maija

Diary of Mountain Tourism: Intro + 1st and 2nd day

When my mother was still a young girl, she loved mountain tourism. She always kept herself fit and saved money so she could spend few weeks hitchhiking in mountains. She used to tell me how she traveled all over the Soviet Union like that. No mountains were left unvisited and countless adventures were experienced. And sometimes there was a task for a group - to write down what happened that day, so memories of the trip would remain as vivid. Just recently I found notes from few of her trips... I will try to translate them and share with you.
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July 18, 1981


There is a restless movement in Tourist Club. Eight people are trying to even out the crinkles in the bags, so another can of food could fit in there. And another... and another.. Then we find out that the bag's weight can't go over 20kg in TU-134, so canned food, bread and tent pegs has to be fit in hand baggage instead.

Attempts to reach the average baggage weight continues in the airport. Turns out that one of the best way to do it, is to wear climbing boots in the plane. It gives extra 800 grams after all!

17:41 - Plane gets off. The distance to Irkutsk is 5300 km. After a cup of coffee, the unchanging blanket of clouds is starting to make us drowsy.
The plane lands in Perm at 20:25 by Moscow time or 22:25 by local time. After that we land in Novosibirsk at 00:05 by Moscow time or 04:05 by local time.

The sun is starting to rise. This might be the shortest night as the flight lasted only an hour and a half.

Māris
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 July 19, 1981


We reached Irkutsk at 3:35 by Moscow time. Right after receiving our baggage, Juris and Elmars went to book the returning tickets.

After an hour, when we have gotten the return ticktes, we moved to railroad station from where we will go to Arshan. Train was going to leave after quite a while, so we had lot of free time. That's why we left our bags in the railroad station and went to see the city. Weather was really warm and we were tired from the the long flight, so we were barely moving. We visited Planetarium and Museum of Nature and bought more food. Time was barely moving forward and we still had few hours left until the train departure. The rest of time we wasted in railroad station while sitting on our bags.

17:45 We managed to get in the train and our trip to Arshan begun. Time after time we can see Baikal through the window and the first photo gets made. We got out of the train in Slyudyanka as there was supposed to be a good traffic to Arshan. Bus was leaving only in the next morning, so we settled down in the first suitable spot next to Baikal and near the station. Both groups had dinner together and it was the first chance for us to get to know each other better. We drank and sang a bit. We had to get up early in the morning, so soon after the dinner everyone left for their tents. We heard cops walking around our tents in the middle of night, but as they had nothing against us, we could drift back to sleep peacefully until the morning.

Alda