Traveling to the edge of the world. Participants of the Great Arctic Expedition—on what it was like

Moscow provides school pupils and students with the chance to spend exciting vacations. This summer young people could spend their time in drawing and dance master classes, on a rollerdrome, practicing on a climbing wall and artificial waves. For travel enthusiasts, expeditions to the Caucasus, Altai, Yamal and Murmansk Region were organized. And the most courageous went even further, to the Taimyr Peninsula, as part of the fifth Great Arctic Expedition, dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. The teenagers spent almost 10 days by the shore of the Arctic Ocean, conducting scientific research and restoring a memorial to polar explorers.

“We are developing extracurricular programs for young Moscow residents, with a special focus on active school tourism. A striking example is the Great Arctic Expedition, which was held for the fifth time. Before the trip, the young people underwent several stages of preparation—from taking part in an Arctic knowledge competition and adventure games to going on training camps in Karelia. During the expedition they studied the flora and fauna of the Laptev Sea coast, completely restored one stele of the memorial complex to Soviet polar explorers, and collected material from the other sections, which they will study and then develop a plan for the final reconstruction. In total, the young travelers covered more than 100 kilometers. In addition, the expedition group ran the world’s first marathon on Cape Chelyuskin in a relay race format,” said Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

Here we describe how the young Moscow residents explored the Arctic and what impressions the Far North left on them.

Serious training and great opportunities

This year’s expedition to the Arctic took place from August 9 to 17. Fourteen high school pupils and students from Moscow colleges went on the expedition. The young people were accompanied by experienced instructors and mentors. The expedition was led by Matvey Shparo, polar explorer, holder of the Order of Courage and Friendship and the first person, along with traveler Boris Smolin, to reach the North Pole on skis in the polar night.

“The Great Arctic Expedition is a clear example of how even the wildest dreams can come true. It allows pupils and students to broaden their horizons, become more independent and feel like real heroes, of the kind whose adventures are described in books. To understand who is ready to become a member of the expedition, we conduct a selection process. This year more than 10 thousand people applied for participation,” says Matvey Shparo.

The selection of the travelers was conducted in several stages. First, the young people took part in an Arctic Knowledge competition and competed in an adventure race in which they set up tents, tied knots and worked with camping equipment. The students then competed in professional skills competitions, while the school pupils developed and presented scientific projects.

“The final stage was a training camp in Karelia. By that time, we had already selected 40 of the brightest young people. For seven days they lived in tents and hiked 60 kilometers. The teens honed their orienteering and teamwork skills. At the end of the training camp, 14 students and high school students made it to the finals. They were selected to participate in the Great Arctic Expedition,” says Matvey Shparo.

Having packed sets of thermal underwear, down jackets and rubber shoes in their luggage, the young people set off together with their mentors. They flew from Moscow to Norilsk, and from there they went on to the town of Khatanga. Here the teenagers were divided into two squads: Keepers of History and Arctic Explorers. The first team flew to Cape Chelyuskin, the northernmost point of Eurasia, and the second team set off on a hiking route along the coast of the Laptev Sea.

Wildlife tracks and an unnamed lake

As they stepped on the cool ground, the members of the Arctic Explorers team immediately realized that they were really lucky. They came to the expedition to study the flora and fauna of the harsh region and found themselves in the Arctic summer.

“It turned out to be warm in the Arctic, up to plus 10 degrees. I learned about the opportunity to go to Taimyr from a friend who went on the Great Arctic Expedition last year. He told me how interesting it was, but of course cold. That’s what I’ve been preparing for. I took warm boots, knitted socks and gloves, but there was no snow and ice,” says Mikhail Krasavin, a participant of the expedition, a 10th grade pupil at School No. 57.

He has been to the northern regions more than once before. Together with his family, Mikhail regularly goes hiking in Karelia and the Kola Peninsula.

“Thanks to my parents, I have known how to pitch a tent and make a fire since childhood. But this expedition isn’t just a hike, it’s real exploration. We went to Cape Pronchischeva to collect scientific samples for leading Russian institutes. We were pioneers on a route where noone had ever set foot before. The team was accompanied by leaders—people with great knowledge and wisdom. With their help, I learned a lot. For the A.N. Severtsov Institute for Problems of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences, I researched the mammals of the region, and found and identified animal tracks. For example, I saw the tracks of polar bears, wolves, reindeer, lemmings and weasels. We also took samples of mosses. And we found a lake along the way that wasn’t on the map. Now we plan to give it a name,” says Mikhail Krasavin.

During their journey across the Far North, the Arctic Explorers walked more than 100 kilometers across the tundra and took 113 samples of mosses, lichens, water and air. In addition to warm clothes, the young people took with them sleeping bags, blankets and capacious tents.

“Toward evening we stopped to set camp for the night. Since it was a polar day and the sun didn’t set, one indispensable item, in addition to a sleeping bag and tent, was a sleep mask. We woke up, had breakfast and continued on our way. We walked on lichens and kurumnik, scattered fragments of stone of different sizes. It was very beautiful, so I took pictures. In addition to taking pictures as a souvenir, I also took away a sprig of cetraria, or Icelandic moss, a lichen from which local people used to make tea,” Mikhail Krasavin said.

The most northerly race and cakes at the edge of the world

While the young researchers were studying the flora and fauna of the north, the members of the Keepers of History group were restoring the stele in honor of Soviet polar explorers at Cape Chelyuskin, one of the northernmost memorial complexes in the world. Among the volunteer restorers was 17-year-old Ekaterina Egorshina, a third-year student of the College of Architecture, Design and Reengineering No. 26 (or 26 CADR) specializing in environmental design.

“The Great Arctic Expedition gave me an incredible experience, and boosted my strength and self-confidence. Already at the selection stage it was necessary to present a plan for restoring the stele, calculating how much time and what materials it would take, and then show my skills in sanding and painting. When I was chosen, I was incredibly excited. On the expedition I tried to do my best. The work on the monument was very thorough. First we made a foundation, then we cleared, primed, spackled and painted the stele. The paint we applied is hard-wearing and resistant to frost and wind. Under the guidance of mentors, and using an angle-grinder and welding apparatus, they installed a fence. We worked in warm clothes and gloves,” says Ekaterina Egorshina.

In the Arctic, the young people not only restored the memorial, but also set records. On the last day of the expedition they organized the northernmost marathon in Eurasia, the Arctic Challenge run in the form of a relay race.

“I love trail running. Once, together with my dad, I ran 50 kilometers along the Caucasus reserve. Before traveling here, I suggested organizing a run in Taimyr. The organizers were supportive of the idea. The event turned out to be atmospheric. We ran, chatted and admired nature. The clouds parted and the sun peeked out, leaving us with the fondest of memories. We also went swimming in the Laptev Sea one day. That was also unforgettable,” says Ekaterina Egorshina.

The journey to the north was a bright event in the life of another member of the Keepers of History team, 19-year-old Ekaterina Gulid, a third-year student at Food College No. 33.

“I’m studying to be a food technologist and on the expedition I was in charge of food. We stayed near a weather station, we had water and electricity, and a working oven and stove. Before the trip, we drew up a menu and calculated the amount of food we needed. I made soups, pilafs, pasta with mincemeat, Caesar salad, and even ‘potato’ cakes. And one day we had northern shawarma for breakfast. The ingredients in it are the same as regular shawarma. It’s just made in the north,” notes Ekaterina Gulid.

The girl is sure that the memories of the Arctic will stay with her for the rest of her life. Here she made new friends and became convinced that she had chosen the right profession.

“It’s an incredible project. It gives you the opportunity to go on an unforgettable journey, to test yourself, to become more confident and courageous, to be closer to nature. We saw a polar bear with a cub, for example. They were standing at a safe distance, but it was still possible to get a good look at them. The emotions from such a meeting cannot be conveyed in words. Now I dream of going to Antarctica to see penguins,” says Ekaterina Gulid.

The Great Arctic Expedition is a unique project of the Moscow Department of Education and Science, in the course of which a team of school pupils and students from Moscow colleges goes to the Far North. There are more details about further education in the capital in the Telegram channels Moscow Education and Moscow Center for Educational Practices.