You live in the city, a year passes and your brain becomes like Sméagol from The Lord of the Rings. The time comes to go on a long journey.
You step on the reindeer moss, sinking ground made of lichen, bog moss and crowberry. Under the weight of your backpack, your feet sink into the soft surface. Balancing like this every new day, you continue your journey, making your way through huge boulders covered with lichen. While the scorching sun exhausts your body, the mosquitoes arrange as many dances as possible, checking how much your nerves have been affected by the environment you chose in civilization.
The tundra is the perfect place to recover. In one day, you can experience all the weather conditions. So the sun suddenly gave way to rain and icy wind. No longer complaining about mosquitoes and midges, but you are already shaking from the cold. To cross the ford, you untie the laces of your boots, and your hands are shaking like after a withdrawal, and your teeth are chattering. Surprisingly, after the cold river, you cheer up and get warm from the excitement (I haven't overcome my fear of water yet).
Thirteen other 'hobbits', eager to reset, share this path with you. Here, you won't be able to put on a mask and pretend. Here, you are real, 'naked'. Here, everyone will see how much you are stuck in the city routine. But it is all these conditions, this entire environment that can shake you up. At the end of your journey, you begin to feel that the inner Sméagol has dissolved.
For the first time, it happened when I was a girl and I came to the sea with my first real salary.. it conquered me, and I thought, yeah, this is mine, so beautiful and warm! I said I would live by the sea! But.. Then I saw the mountains! And then I was conquered by the incredible force, height and power of these ancient giants! Of course, I screamed: I'm staying here! And now the North has happened... by chance, I ended up on the Kola Peninsula, and I think it accepted me, gave me the best warm days, the tundra embraced me with the sun, laid the softest reindeer moss, quenched my thirst with water and fed me with berries.. what else do you need? As for you.. hold the northern lights!
I couldn't imagine that everything would be so perfect! We stood at the edge of the world where there's nothing further.. the wind of the Arctic Ocean didn't wound with cold, it gave a pleasant coolness on a hot day... The most incredible feeling, of course, is that we were the only ones there.. it was as if we were the discoverers of these places!
And, of course, this wouldn't have happened without an incredible guide, the best in the North, Pavel Rudenko and Anna Migalina. With great love, they tell and show the North! They are truly awesome guides! Together with the tundra, they embraced us and gave us an unforgettable adventure!
The North is now in my heart, which means I will return.
The hike to Dalnie Zelentsy is already my third hike with Pasha Rudenko in the Kola. Each time I return and say that I went on another best hike of my life)
Organization. As someone who has been on many hikes and has different experiences, including negative ones, I can say that I like the organization. Pasha understands camping gear and will advise you what to wear from socks to jacket so that you don't get wet, cold or suffer on the hike, will provide a good tent that can withstand strong wind, recommend a warm lightweight sleeping bag and how to lighten your backpack.
The route is well explored and personally traveled several times, so we always have stops in the most beautiful places.
There is a second guide, there is communication by radio, bear protection, so even if you fall behind, you always feel safe. The guides cook the food themselves, everything is very tasty, especially my favorite lentil soup with ostrich meat.
I would also like to express special thanks for the group tent, which fits all the participants of the hike and in which you can eat and chat if it's cool or rainy outside, it adds a lot of comfort. Since the food and gear are optimally selected, the weight of the backpack is small and you can walk and enjoy the views, plus in the evening at the camp it's comfortable and you have the strength to sit and chat.
I also consider an important component of success the fact that Pasha loves the north, hikes and people, is always in a positive mood and has an amazing sense of humor, this atmosphere is passed on to the team, so much positivity and laughter, funny stories told during this week, I don't have enough for a whole year.
Some guys go hiking several times. So, by the third hike, I felt that I met a group of friends.
Also, Pasha selects guides with love for people and their work, big thanks to the second guide Ilya for his help and positivity) This time a very good company gathered, hugging everyone, hope to see you again)
Nature. I've been to the Caucasus, Turkey, Montenegro and other places, but now I've felt that the northern nature resonates with me, I felt that this is mine, that I am always beautiful here, everything pleases the eye - and horizons with green mountains, sandstone, tundra, ocean and the microcosm in the form of moss. I realized this only after coming here.
So, to summarize, I can say that everything coincided here - both nature and people, this week I was absolutely and unconditionally happy) Big thanks to Pasha and everyone else for this wonderful week in the Kola)
There is an amazing gift to discover the world in all its beauty, when small details create an atmosphere of fullness, when the air without smells and sounds expands the space, when the invisible world of animals gives a full sense of his presence nearby.
When a person is at peace and in harmony with himself and his comrades, Pavel Rudenko possesses this gift, having discovered for himself and many tourists the Arctic - the Kola Peninsula, where there is a special force of attraction, its own power and beauty.
A passionate person, very reliable, educated, friendly, open-minded, ready to share his experience and warmth, constantly expanding his world, next to whom it is just very pleasant to be in communication. I want to keep this communication, so Pavel and I go on the next hike over and over again, plunging into the state of northern, but warm, friendly moments of real rest.
The route after which you will definitely fall in love with the tundra is any hike with Pavel along the coast of Kolsky. It will suit and appeal to already "found" people, and with them those who are just gaining experience and even those who are generally recovering from a hike for the first time.
I want to share my impressions of our mini-adventure, which had plenty of interesting things (strangely enough, there was a sea too), beautiful sights, delicious food, fun, and informative moments!
I don't want to talk about the classic excellent organization of all aspects, from the hotel, transfer, route, stops, lunches, stories, and movies, as I don't want to spoil the most pleasant impressions for future tourists. Everything is beyond praise! Pasha does everything четко, on time, and so organically that you don't even notice it.
The food on the hike is 'My Respect,' it turns into a gastronomic tour. And the overall atmosphere is as relaxed as possible, giving only positive emotions.
In short, I highly recommend it, I advise it, I persuade you. Probably, there's nothing similar anywhere else. Very few people love the nature of the North as much as Pasha and are ready to share it.
PS. The northern lights were a great addition to the hike (adventure), but none of us would have been upset if they hadn't been there.
The first thing I want to write about is safety on the hike. A feeling that envelops you right away and doesn't leave, neither during the day nor at night. Everything was thought out and provided for.
I was impressed by the route! A walk along the White Sea coast, damp mossy bogs, a bright autumn forest, a comfortable ascent to the hills along soft reindeer moss. It's hard to believe that you can see such diversity in just 6 days of travel!
An abnormal drought made some adjustments, but alternative routes were known in advance and explored on site, so we didn't lose anything in terms of the beauty or comfort of the campsites.
It wasn't difficult to walk. Thanks to two guides, the leader and the rear guard, you could choose a relaxed pace or, conversely, speed up. So, it doesn't matter who you are — Achilles or a turtle, you will still meet!
Comfortable daily routine. Everything was clear and agreed upon in advance, there was always time to rest, to pack without fuss and haste.
We formed a very friendly team. It's great that the north attracts so many different and interesting people! Our guides organized the evening leisure activities great. It was warm and fun in any weather!
Not least, the good mood was contributed by the menu. Every day it seems that nothing can surpass this dinner, but then the next day comes... Special thanks for the delicious coffee!
Kola, we've seen you! You're beautiful! You're with us for life!
The hike to Rybachy was amazing!!! Being so close to nature, I forgot about everything in the world! My mind and body were completely cleansed. Salmon were rising in the rivers, whales and seals were swimming in the sea, and reindeer were running next to us.
On the horizon, there was an endless sea and a fiery sunset, watched over by submarines. The weather, in my opinion, brought many new sensations and challenges! My face managed to get a tan, and my membranes were tested 100%. Beaches and boulders, blueberry fields and the sound of the sea. Everything is great!!!
Thank you so much for the organization and for what you and Anna do with soul and love for people and the Kola Peninsula.
I still think about the hike to Daliye Zelentsy with Pasha Rudenko every day.
I can't say that I have a lot of hiking experience, but I have something to compare with. Objectively, Pasha is in first place in terms of organization. The person understands and, most importantly, loves what he does, is passionate about it.
The entire route has been explored in advance, we never got lost, it feels like Pasha knows every stone here)) There is a second guide in the team who is always in his place at the back of the group. At the same time, the pace of movement is very comfortable, you don't get tired of the transitions, there is no need to overcome yourself/the desire to reach the camp faster, on the contrary, there were days when I wanted to keep going and going))
The organization of the hike is at the highest level, from choosing the route to the food rations, the guys do something interesting with food every time, and there are no duties, if you want, you can help with cooking, but you can also sleep longer)) At the end of the route, we came to the semi-abandoned village of Daliye Zelentsy, in which you don't feel like you've entered any kind of civilization at all, that is, the hike ends surprisingly harmoniously.
Overall, the impressions of the hike with Pasha were only positive, there wasn't a single day when something prevented me from enjoying the beautiful northern nature, nothing distracted me.
Thanks really want to be said for everything: the route, the organization, the responsibility, the humor, the positive attitude, the work of the very responsible second guide Ilya, thanks to the team, which included wonderful people, and it couldn't be otherwise with Pasha's approach to his business.
Exactly a week has passed since we returned from our UNFORGETTABLE trip... and I still can't get over the Kola Peninsula!
No wonder you fell in love with it and devoted so many years to this region. I must say that the north is the north, but the way you choose routes, how you plan each day, the evenings in the camp filled with information and atmosphere — it's a whole different art form! I give you a high five! I not only visited this polar land, but also got to know its history, as if I went on an excursion :))
Anyway, with you, even to the ends of the earth :) we just need to improve the gear ;)
p.s. in March, reserve a spot for me in the ski trek
While watching another video about northern travels on one of the platforms, I learned about Pavel in the comments. I wrote to him the same evening and received an exhaustive answer, which served as a positive impetus for the decision to go on a trek.
I immediately liked Pavel's thorough, informal approach to organizing the trek, there are no small things for him. The route is perfectly planned, taking into account the places for day stops and overnight stays, sources of water, etc. On the trek, I was pleasantly surprised that the travelers were given leisure time after dinner.
Pavel turned on the projector and we watched documentaries and cartoons in our 'dining tent' and discussed the day that had passed. Far from the comforts of civilization, this was very encouraging, it seems to me, for tired tourists.
Assembling a group for the trek is another great merit of Pavel. Our group developed a very warm relationship with each other during the trek. We still continue to communicate in the common chat. And I hope to see my 'tribesmen' again on the next trek!
A beautiful route that I would hardly ever take on my own. I would like to note the comfortable pace of movement and good places for camping. But for me, the most important thing is that this trip left яркие, positive, long-lasting memories. The guides and participants were extremely interesting, diverse and pleasant to communicate with.
I am extremely grateful for the organization of this trek.
I really hope that the stars will align again and we will go somewhere.
