Back

Camp 2 in Angarsk/Former Trans-Siberian Railway 17th - 30th June 2006

by Birgit Rambo

In June 2006 there were only a few people interested in working at Lake Baikal. As the World Cup was held in Germany, it was certainly the main focus for most people and as a result, the camp in Bolshoe Goloustoe which I wanted to take part in was cancelled. Two other camp projects that were planned to take place at the same time were combined into one project.

So, we (5 students from Ulan-Ude and Angarsk, two students from America, one Canadian teacher and me) spent one week in Angarsk and then another week at a place near the former Trans-Siberian Railway.
In Angarsk it was planned to build a nature trail on an island situated in the Kitoi River. In the village of Polovinny, which is a station at the former Trans-Siberian Railway, we were supposed to build a 'camp site'. We had just put up our tents on the island when it began raining ... for three days. Within a couple of hours the river level rose that much that we had to expect flooding on the island. The group leader Vladimir Kidekel decided to evacuate the island the next day. The motor boat of the emergency management team that came to rescue us gave the evacuation a touch of adventure as we wouldn't leave the island in the manner in which we arrived - on folding boats.

Now, we were accommodated with host families which was planned to happen only a few days later. Everyone really appreciated it since they could warm themselves and dry their wet clothes. We spent our time in the museum and the cinema. On the forth day it finally stopped raining and we put up our tents once again. This time we didn't stay on the island but at the river bank in the village. During the day, the bank is a very popular beach. At night it's a popular place for the youth in Angarsk to meet. As a result, the bank looks like a dump.

On the remaining three days we spent here we built somewhat like a 'starting point' for classes visiting the island. We erected tables and benches, we dug out a 'nature toilet' and we built a trail that was about 80m (262ft) in length. Of course, we also paid our attention to all the litter that was lying around the camp. However, it seemed to be a 'never-ending battle', like Shelly from Canada always said.

During the second camp week we wanted to stay at Lake Baikal. We travelled with the commuter train (the 'elektritshka') and the Baikal Express to the village of Polovinny. It was really interesting for all participants to get to know two different places in Siberia. However, it was very exhausting to carry all the camp equipment including luggage, tents, material, food and tools from A to B by public transport.

Polovinny is a picturesque village situated in a bay at Lake Baikal. Within the summer months, trains full with tourists stop there every day pouring out 200 to 400 people at once who then swarm into the countryside for 1 or 2 hours having a picnic until they travel to the next stations worth seeing. Therefore it makes sense to build something like a camp site with tables, benches and toilets there.

But when we arrived it turned out that the persons responsible for the Baikal Express, the national park and GBT didn't discuss in advance about what to build and where. So, the motto was: 'Let's collect some wood, bring it there and then we'll see what we can do.' As a result, we spent most days of the week waiting for results of the discussions taking place between the responsible persons and towing the building material from one place to another. In the end, we achieved scarcely anything. I also have to mention that the timber was of poor quality. So, we couldn't build robust constructions. Furthermore, we had lots of tools for building the trail but only few appropriate joinery tools. In order to avoid that all our efforts would be in vain we built tables and benches for the owner of the local café called 'Tyotya Rosa' on the last day. Her summer guests could now sit in the café garden. We also built a trail within the village that was about 50m (164ft) in length. It should help the tourists to find the public toilet.

Considering the poor results of the work we did during these two weeks I had nonetheless a very interesting time. It was a journey I will always remember: living in a camp, sitting around the campfire talking with people of radically opposed cultures, swimming in the freezing water of Lake Baikal while having a stunning view of the landscape around. I'm glad that I participated in this camp.

Back