We took off our clothes, wet with sweat, and plunged into the very cold and clean waters of the Tyra. The rivers, that flow through permafrost, can’t be different. Then we rubbed red-hot with towels, changed into dry clothes and sat down at the table. The dinner took place slowly, we rested and enjoyed the still warm Yakut sun.
We discussed the current situation once again and decided that it would be optimal to return to the base and discuss a plan of further actions with Andrey – and we did so.
The next day there was a new and even more difficult expedition. Early morning, we went down the river and sailed until our everywhere-passing "Khivus" stalled. We gathered quickly, took with us only sleeping bags and supplies for a couple of days, packed everything we needed in backpacks and moved up the stream. The group was led by a young guide Konstantin, or simply Kostya, a guy of strong build, medium height, tuned to the result.
Soon we began to slowly undress from the intense walking and the scorching sun. We tried to use the slightest opportunity to wash, wet our headdress and dry shoes because sweat poured down like hail. My well-tested Meindl shoes, that I used on such hunts for almost two decades, showed themselves from the best side once again. Zhaysan and Ilyas had shoes of a similar type, but still somewhat inferior in functionality to mine. Though the guides advised to go in rubber boots with a high top because of the need to force regularly small, but quite deep channels. To be honest, it would be good to use such boots only to cross rivers, but it’d a real torture to walk on stones, ice (which laid here since last winter) and wet sand with clay. I wasn’t sure that Zhaysan and Ilyas would have been able to walk in them as much as we walked in those days.
The stuffiness not heat forced us to take off our clothes more and more, and as a result we were forced to strip down to our underpants.
Rocks, rocks, rocks, rocks
Probably, our half-naked caravan looked funny from the outside. Kostya, the guide, was the leader, Zhaysan and Ilyas followed him. I was the rear end to make pictures and video of our journey. And there was something to shoot!
The further we moved up the stream, the steeper the rocks became and the larger the boulders were, on which we had to jump every now and then. There was no other way, except for the stones. In some places, the stream bed narrowed to such that we were forced to wade through a narrow strip of land, densely overgrown with tallow. As we moved forward and up, the riverbed became narrower, and the stream itself became deeper. In some places we had to take off shoes, and waded through it in terribly cold water. The muscles of the legs almost cramped from the sharp drop in temperatures. But the blood circulation in the legs and especially in the feet became much better after each crossing, and we rushed into the "battle” with new strength.
Suddenly we buried in such a rocky wall that I thought with annoyance: that was the end of our journey and it would be a pity for the wasted effort. That place was simply amazing from the point of view of natural beauty. There was the waterfall about ten meters high. Unusually clear emerald-colored waters fell into a natural font, carved in stone for many millennia.
We studied the rocks for a few minutes and thought how we could go the route, at least to cling to something. At last, we mapped out the route with great difficulty. But it was one thing to lay it out mentally, and it was quite another to walk along it. There were already ten kilometers behind us, if not more by that moment. Our legs were covered with scratches, abrasions and just ached from the great strain. But it was necessary to strain even more. It was not an easy matter to walk along the slippery and narrow ledge of an almost vertical cliff, and even with backpacks and weapons. Nevertheless, we decided to take a chance.
Kostya went first, paving the way. After he successfully passed a steep cliff, Zhaysan, Ilyas, and I followed one by one, carefully placing our feet on narrow stone ledges and clinging to small ledges in the rock with our hands, like lizards. The hiking poled did a good job. – They helped to keep balance, though it was not easy to do with a heavy backpack on your back.
Finally, everyone safely passed the dangerous crossing.
After a short rest, we went up again and soon became convinced of the treachery of this beautiful place. We had to pass near a huge stone slab, that was polished by a glacier that had descended centuries ago. It was just right next to the waterfall. One edge of it leaned directly into that very natural font. Small rivulets flowed along the slab and made its smooth surface very slippery. We had to move along it on all fours, clinging to the slightest protrusions with everything we could find, we clung with hands, the edge of the sole of shoes, and walking poles. Fortunately, we could overcome that part of the route without losses and injuries. But then Ilyas's knee hurt, probably, from the overload. But he assured us that everything was well and persuaded to go on.
Then we left the stream to the right along the slope. We met there, the painfully familiar deep moss, moist soil, huge boulders hiding under them and the associated "charms" of walking in such places. So we went another three kilometers, when finally a valley opened up in front of us, bordered on all sides by mountain ranges. Sheep’ habitat. It took my breath away from the visual perspectives, but I was no longer up to it. We had already passed a straight line about 13-14 kilometers after disembarking from the "Khivus”, judging by the GPS. And should go one km more to the foot of the mountains where were going to stay for a night.
The overnight stay
It took us a half of an hour to reach the mountains. We tried to find at least a little dry place to set up camp, but there were ground waters all around, and the soil under our feet was smacking savory. It was getting late. Suddenly, we detected sheep in one of the small gorges while we were looking for a parking place. They were at a distance of about two kilometers from us. We went around the territory and found just two dry spaces, but one of them was too narrow for four people. And stayed on the second one.
The backpack fell off my shoulders, and it seemed to me that I took off! Kostya went to the mountains to make an accurate reconnaissance for tomorrow's hunt, while we were busy preparing dinner. bonfire, hot tea with sandwiches and other food became our reward for a hard fifteen-kilometer journey over water and rocks lasting a whole day.
Soon Kostya came back and told that he saw the group of six animals on the rocks. He was sure that they would not move anywhere from that area, and we would be able to approach them tomorrow.
A dream under the open sky begins always with the contemplation of a mysterious Universe with a huge number of shining stars. It is both amazing and breathtaking, relaxes and makes you forget all those difficult and tense moments of the past day, running through your memory before sleep takes hold of you
We woke up at dawn and the next hunting day began.
The night passed quickly. But we managed to relax to some extent. We got up at 5 am. A cup of tea and light breakfast. The muscles of the legs were overflowed with lactic acid and ached. It was hard to make them work. We could do it later when went to the mountains. We all felt as if there were wooden stilts were instead of legs while they were not warmed up from the load.
It was much easier to walk in the cool of the morning. But yesterday's fatigue was flaring up already halfway along the way. Ilyas's knee ached again It was also hard for Zhaysan. Only Kostya rushed forward as guides often did. I had to coordinate the actions of both the vanguard and the rearguard, so that the first would not run too far ahead without hunters, and the second would not fall behind and lose sight of us. I continued to shoot interesting moments of the expedition during the ascend.
Then we entered to the zone of cedar elfin. I kept to remind Kostya not to run far away. I tried to explain him that if we found sheep nearby, they might notice us and not wait for the hunters, what meant the failure of the entire expedition, wasted time and effort. Kostya agreed for a short time, but then he broke off again.
Those who we needed.
At one of the moments when I was waiting for Zhaysan with Ilyas, Kostya sat down and waved his hand at me. He spotted the same sheep that he saw yesterday, but much closer to us. The sheep left the rocks and lay down a little lower, in the cedars. I raised up carefully and saw a group of animals at a distance of what was called an outstretched arm. There were 70-80 m to them. It wasn’t the distance for the mountain hunting! I looked back – neither Zhaysan nor Ilyas was there. The thought flashed that the rams might not wait for their arrival. Just in case, I pulled the camera out of the case and started shooting, if anything, I could show Zhaysan proof that there were sheep. But I kept watching to see if Jaisan would appear. Finally, he came out from behind a cedar bush about a hundred meters away and gave us a tired look. We waved to him to come up faster. Kostya, like many guides, began to fuss, trying to make it clear to Zhaysan that the sheep would leave now and he had to run. How he could run after such loads and a difficult climb! I explained to Kostya that rushing now was the worst thing, if Zhaysan ran, he would lose his breath and it would be even worse. A miss in such cases, was almost guaranteed. It was very difficult to put a carbine in your shoulder after lifting and to make a well-aimed shot, even at such a short distance.
Jaisan came over. I realized that there wouldn’t be an accurate shot in such a state. He breathed hard. “Where are sheep?” - he asked. They were on the same place. But one of them moved to the side. I looked back at Jaisan and realized that it'd take time for him to catch his breath. Kostya was in a hurry: “Shoot!", while I was trying to dissuade Zhaysan, and to bring him to the idea that it was necessary to catch your breath, otherwise-a miss. It was very hard to shoot standing up, after climbing, without any support at an altitude of 2,500 meters. Finally, Jaisan decided to shoot. I turned on the camera and took the rams in the visor. Jaisan took a few breaths, then a deep breath. I saw how the barrel of his gun was moving, but still hoped that after all…
The miracle did not happen.
The sheep started from where they stood after the shot and disappeared. None of them fell. Zhaysan was a good shooter and our souls were still warmed by the hope that he hit, but the ram just ran away in a fever and would lie down somewhere. We took a breath. Then we waited for five minutes and went to the place where the sheep’ group was a few minutes ago.
No traces of a hit were found there. None of the sign of blood, wool or something else. We came to the edge of a steep rocky gorge, and Kostya noticed the sheep, they were running away from us along a slope.
One more attempt to take a worthy trophy, but from a distance of 400 meters! A shot was fired from a standing position at animals that ran at a great distance. One more miss. 450 meters! The shot and the miss. The fire was over.
(to be continued)
