A few weeks ago I received a question from an UK backpacker, who is coming to Yakutia in January 2010. He asked “Is there an ice road to the Lena Pillars? Is it possible to make it there in January?”
Btw, a request was sent via the Facebook group “Ask-Yakutia-Today,” everyone is welcome to join us.
Frankly saying, the Lena Pillars (located a few hundreds kilometres south off Yakutsk) is visited in winter less than in summer. The main reason is the ice road that was asked about.
So… here are my answers.
Is there an ice road to the Lena Pillars?
In the period of December – the early March, there is no ice road to this place. It is too cold for locals to go and enjoy the major geological phenomenon in Siberia’s Yakutia.
BUT…
The road appears in the end of March. That’s the time, when it’s getting warmer and people prefer to do more outdoor leisure activity like BBQs. The Lena Pillars turns out to be the perfect place to enjoy fresh air, beautiful landscapes and Russian shashlik/kebab.
Btw, annually the administration of the Khangalasky region (that’s where the Pillars are stretched along the river) arranges a sort of local tourism festival with concerts, national dances, sports competitions, etc. Btw, for the sake of this fest, road constructors clean the way from ice-hummocks.
Is it possible to make it there in January?
Yes. There are two ways how people can get to the Lena Pillars. The first one is exotic and relatively expensive. The second is cheap and extreme.
The first way
You can order tour “Reindeer sledding to the Lena Pillars from Yakutsk.” It is relatively expensive, but very exotic.
The route goes on the same bank, where the Pillars are. Note, on the bank along the river, not on and through the river. Reindeer don’t need the road to give you a ride :)
The starting point varies. It can be the settlement of Nizhnij Bestjah or the place much closer to the final destination. Everything depends on how much time you want to use for the trip. The tour can be conducted in the course of the whole winter.
How much does it cost? No idea, but I know that the tour opportunity exists, and I know it is relatively expensive.
The second way
You can reach the village of Tumul (the red arrow points at it) and cross the river from there to the Lena Pillars by walk.
The red arrows points at the village of Tumul that is located on the opposite bank of the Lena River in front of the Pillars.
The plan is simple, but very extreme and risky. Why?
- December, January and February are very cold months in Yakutia. Extreme cold (-40C and -50C) is the main obstacle. Besides, you have to keep in mind that winds on the river are very strong, and they behave brutally.
- The distance from one bank to another in the area of Tumul is impressive. Maybe, 5-7 km. So your trekking time will be long enough to suffer from cold.
CONCLUSION: You need to be wrapped in many warm clothes, and while crossing through ice-hummocks, you shouldn’t make any stops so to keep warm. Be prepared to spend outdoor two hours at least, since the moment, when you get out of the car.
The distance between banks is almost the same as in the picture. I took this photo in Pokrovsk.
See what I meant saying ‘ice-hummocks’.
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