Kurilskoye Lake, Kamchatka (22 August): Helitourists

22 August 2014

Kurilskoye Lake, Kamchatka, Russia

Helitourists. We went in the deep end of Kamchatka. today it was about helicopters. Tomorrow will be about bears. Of course there is an interesting blog to be written about decision-making – how can one decide to drop significant cash at the end of the earth after scrimping along for months. But that is a blog for another time.

Nana Patsy and the kids: intergenerational helitourists.
Because that's how we roll!

So today was about helicopters. About MI-8 former Russian military helicopters. About waiting around for other members of our group to arrive at the heliport. About picking daisies while other helicopters hover to the center of the field and then, in a great flurry, approximate a “take-off”. This is apparently the standard Russian helicopter practice. In time the group is gathered and we assemble on the benches inside, earphones secured, with our luggage heaped in the middle. The helicopter banks and heads south. We fly no more than 500 feet above ground, which feels like 100 feet. At times the ground comes up to meet us and we’re closer to 20-30 feet. The kids? Very exciting for 10 minutes. Maybe 15. Then they’re ready for a nap. Napping in a helicopter? Really, what is with kids these days?

Our first stop is crater lake of Schtubelya situated inside Ksudach Volcano. This is a huge caldera about 45 minutes (by helicopter) south of Petropavlovsk. The helicopter lands on an ashy rise above a steely blue lake that has filled in the crater. Liam is excited for about 10 seconds when he gets of the plane in his best matching cotton shorts and shirt from Thailand. But the wind is harsh beyond reason, and it’s all he can do to hug himself for the few seconds it takes us to muster a family photo before he scurries back on board. We’re level with the snow fields in the mountain gorges surrounding us. We’re north!

Schtubelya Crater Lake. Cold if you're dressed for the tropics

The last stop for us was this little electric-fence fortified compound of cabins on the shores of Kurilskoye Lake which is where we’re getting ready for our next adventure.

Landing in Kurilskoye Lake. Our not-quite-bear-proof compound for 3 days.