As I prepare for my PolarTREC expedition there are many things to consider. First, I want to be sure I have what I need to basically survive on the Kamchatka Peninsula living outdoors for approximately a month. Second, I want to understand some practical information about how to get around in Moscow and along our travel route. Third, I am practicing using the technology of the laptop, camera and satellite phone that I have been issued so that I can communicate the information our team gathers while out in the field. Finally, I want to make sure that I take time to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of the Kamchatka Peninsula while I have the opportunity to experience it.
To give you an idea of how extraordinary this expedition is, here are a few maps and details that might help increase your understanding.
Destination: Kamchatka Peninsula
The Kamchatka Peninsula is in Far East Russia between the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Okhotsk. It is extremely remote and challenging to get to. In fact, Kamchatka is closer to Los Angeles, California than it is to the city of Moscow. Most Russians never go there. However, I will be traveling east in order to get there. I will stop in Munich, Germany, Moscow, Russia and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky before heading into the remote wilderness. There is a 16 hour time difference between where I am in New Jersey and the Kamchatka Peninsula.
The Kamchatka Peninsula is the most volcanically active region in the world. Just off the peninsula's shore there is an extremely deep trench (34,400 ft) called the Kuril-Kamchatka Trench which is responsible for the high volcanic activity.
Map of Kamchatka Peninsula
Below is a Russian image of the peninsula where you can see the long line of volcanoes that dot the surface of the land along the eastern shoreline.
Kamchatka Volcanoes
The three largest volcanoes, and arguably most beautiful, are Kluchevsky (15, 381 ft), Koryaksky(11,336 ft) ( and Kronotsky (11, 572 ft). They are just three of the 160 volcanoes that can be found there, 29 of them still active. Thankfully, their eruptions are not generally dangerous since the lava that flows from them is so thick that it rarely makes it to the bottom of the volcano itself. The smoke however, has been known to disrupt plane travel in the area for short periods of time. I hope to see all three of these along the way and plan to send you images of them from the field.
Thanks for following along as I prepare for this expedition. I have a feel that while being out there – way out there – it will be comforting to know that family and friends are checking on my whereabouts and adventures.