Another request came from Polish mountaineers, Maciek and Kasia. This upcoming summer they decided to trek across the whole Momsky National Park. Accordingly they asked questions as many as possible. Mainly on the route Burustakh (a settlement on the Road of Bones) – Pobeda Peak – the village of Sasyr – the village of Khonuu.
I addressed all their questions to local adventurers. One of them, known as UV58, gave me pretty good answers.
The request included the following info and questions
1) The group
The group consists of two people – me, and my friend, Kasia.
We are pretty experienced:
- as travellers – I travelled around Kyrgystan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan
- as mountaineers – we climb in Polish Tatras and in the Alps, and trek a lot in various mountains, we know what it means to cross a glacier, climb a rigde and so on.2) The journey:
The general plan:
1. Leave Poland (18 July), get to Magadan (end of July)
2. 20-30 days for the Chersky Mountains (get to Burustach, cross the Mountains, climb Pobeda, get to Sasyr)
3. 10-20 days for the Momsky Range
4. Fly to Poland via Yakutsk. We want to be back in Poland on 11-12 of September.The detailed plan:
1. Leave Poland on 18 July
2. Arrive at Khabarowsk by train at the end of July
3. Get to Magadan by air at the end of July
4. Get to Burustach by car.
5. Spend approximately 25-30 days in the Chersky Range.I think it will take us:
- 10 days to get from Burustach to Pobeda region
- 10 days for the climbing / glacier action
- 5-10 days to get from Pobeda region to Sasyr6. Then, in Sasyr, I would like to get some food and start the trekking in the Momsky Mountains. It will be the end of August.
Depending on the time left:
- if there is more time left, we would like to get from Sasyr to Khonuu (Moma) on foot, along the Momsky Range.
- if there is little time left, we would like to do some trekking, some back to Sasyr and get to Khonuu by motorboat.I heard that it is possible to fly to Yakutsk from Khonuu – this is why we want to get there.
7. Fly from Yakutsk to Moscow on the 10th of September.
8. Get to Poland on 11-12th of September.3) The finanses.
We are Polish students – we have some money for the expedition, but, of course, we would like to minimise the cost – we are no millionaires ;). Frankly speaking, I have no idea, how much we could offer this travel agency, but – the ONLY thing we would like to ask them for, is:
- book the flight from Momsky region to Yakutsk for us,
- help us get from Sasyr to the nearest airport (Khonuu), from where we could get to Yakutsk – if there is little time left and we wouldn’t be able to do it by ourselves.You think, it will take much money?
The questions for the agency / the people knowlegable are these I asked you the last time – is this plan managable? I know for sure it is possible to get from Burustach to Pobeda, and I think we could get to Sasyr there, but I don’t know if it’s possible to get to Khonuu from Sasyr on foot.
UV58′s answers:
- 10 days from Burustakh to Pobeda by foot?
Possible. However, backpacks must be not too heavy, no more than 50 kg each. You must trek along Burustakh, not along Antagachanu.
- 10 days for climbing Pobeda?
It’s okey. Enough.
- 5-10 days from Pobeda to Sasyr?
It’s also okey. But you can stop for a while close to Sasyr, if the water level in the Moma River will be high. However, August is okey with waters, but if rains take place, it can happen.
- From Sasyr to Khonuu by foot through mountains?
No idea. It’s a long way. There is a horse track, but it goes along the Moma River, not through the range. But it will take much time. The distance might be approx. 200 km.
- Return to Sasyr and make it to Khonuu by a motorboat?
The Moma River is not a navigable waterway. Motor boats go only in the down part, between the Great Momsky Frazil and the river mouth. Usually travelers raft from Sasyr to Khonuu. Rafting this route takes 3-4 days.
- Fly from Yakutsk to Khonuu?
Yeah, it’s possible. Two passenger flights a week. Plus a cargo flight that is much better. It’s cheaper and no luggage limits.
- Any help with travel from Sasyr to Khonuu?
There isn’t a travel company in Sasyr. Apparently you need to get in touch with the administration of the Momsky National Park. They can arrange rafting that route. They get used to do that… for some fees, certainly.
Dersu’s answers
- From Sasyr to Khonuu by foot through mountains?
In 1988, as far as I remember, one group walked from the Great Momsky Frazil and spent 20 days on the way. Trekking from Sasyr to Khonuu will take 30 days at least :)
My additional answers:
- Is it possible to get by car from Magadan to Burustach?
Yeah, you can get to Burustakh by a long-distance taxi, that goes from Magadan to Ust-Nera. One seat costs 7500 rubles.
- Could you, or do you know a travel agency that could help us to book a flight from Khonuu to Yakutsk?
Just google on the Internet. Any Yakutia-based travel agency can book tickets on this route. You can also check flights schedule with this shop http://travelshop.yakutia.ru/ , that is, unfortunately in Russian only.
That’s it.
PS. Answers were provided by Dersu and UV58, Yakutsk-based active travelers and residents of Adv.Yktv.ru. Now waiting pictures from them :)
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