Blog

Blog on Kola Peninsula Treks and Arctic Gear

Since 2019, I have been writing a blog at pavelrudenko.ru — sharing the routes I’ve completed myself and the gear I’ve tested in the field. Here you’ll find trip reports from the Khibiny and the Tersky Coast, detailed reviews of tents and skis, ski trek advice, and travel notes from Turkey and the High Arctic. If you’re getting ready for your first journey to the Kola Peninsula or choosing winter gear, start with the tags in the sidebar — they mirror the topics covered in the articles.

Blog on Kola Peninsula Treks and Beyond

I am a polar guide and the founder of an expedition project on the Kola Peninsula. The blog features topics we usually discuss around the campfire or in a tent vestibule — how the wind behaves on a mountain pass, where to find water near Lake Lovozero, and which climbing skins to use on wet slush after a thaw. I only write about what I’ve witnessed with my own eyes or tested on the trail. I don’t rewrite third-party guides or promote gear for ads.

The blog’s geography extends beyond a single region. Most articles focus on the Kola Peninsula, the White and Barents Seas, the Khibiny Mountains, Kandalaksha Gulf, Teriberka, and coastal routes. However, there are also international trails — the Lycian Way, Cappadocia, Svaneti — and trips across the mountains of Russia, including the Urals, Altai, and the Caucasus. This helps you understand which northern skills and techniques work in other mountain environments, and which don’t.

Content is organized by topic rather than publication date. A single article may carry two or more tags covering text type, region, activity, or gear focus. You’ll find field notes, detailed gear reviews, practical guides, and quick route logistics notes with maps in separate sections. There are also photo stories from Iceland and Kamchatka, along with announcements like school schedules and newsletter signups.

Trip Reports and the Kola in Winter Series

A major part of the blog is dedicated to winter ski tours and snowshoe treks. In the Kola in Winter series, I describe daily trail life — mileage, weather, camp routines, what broke down, and how we fixed it. It’s not a dry logbook, but an immersive story filled with the scent of the freezing sea and the crunch of snow under ski skins.

Some posts were published weekly throughout the winter season, making them easy to read like chapters in a route book. Other reports stand alone but share the same spirit — the same harsh North, the same skis, and the same honest reflections on exhaustion and fireside joy. Readers often ask in the comments about a specific mountain pass or binding model; I answer from trail experience or write a dedicated note if needed.

Regions across the Kola Peninsula are categorized by zone to help you quickly find your route. In the Khibiny — granite baths, ski touring out of Apatity and Kirovsk, and ski treks into the tundra. In the west — Kuzema, solo hikes toward Dalnie Zelentsy, trails from Monchegorsk, and river valley ski tracks. Kisassa and Loparskaya cover the western tundra, winter shelters, and long traverses to the sea.

To the east lie Lovozero, Shulgaur, and trails leading to the Barents Sea. The Tersky Coast features Teriberka, the Kuzmensky glacier, berry trails, and winter treks in search of Arctic cloudberries. Kola Bay and the Murmansk region include Umba, Tuloma, Polyarnye Zori, caves, and short coastal hikes.

If you prefer standalone long reads, explore standalone trip reports like Granite Bath, Chukotka, or the White Sea near Teriberka. For winter routes, look for ski tour materials; for short outings, check day hikes; and for summer backpacking itineraries, browse trekking and hiking.

Gear Reviews for Northern Expeditions

During winter on the Kola Peninsula, a gear mistake is far more critical than an extra 200 g in your summer pack. I test tents, jackets, boots, and skis in real wilderness conditions — at −35 °C in the vestibule, in heavy wet snow after a thaw, and against fierce winds off the Barents Sea. Every gear review provides real metrics — weight, comfort ratings, binding compatibility — along with honest drawbacks.

A dedicated section covers tents — Hilleberg, Ferrino, Nova Tour — with tips on picking the right shelter for solo and two-person expeditions. Jackets and membranes — how fabrics perform in the Arctic, what breathability truly means in extreme frost, and why a condensation liner is essential. Sleeping bags and insulation — staying warm below zero, sleeping pads, and camp warmth systems.

You’ll also find articles on skis, bindings, and NNN BC boots, including comparisons of Alfa, Alpina, and Lundhags. Footwear care after salty slush, packing lists for extended treks, cook pots, and canister gas for camp stoves. Before buying gear in Murmansk, I often stop by Prohiker to discuss new releases with local trekkers.

Educational Guides — Skis, Navigation, Campcraft, and Safety

Not everything in the blog centers on a specific trail. Many articles address how to prepare properly before setting out. These are practical, fluff-free guides based on what I teach in our tourism school and in the field with expedition groups.

How to choose touring skis and prep climbing skins, what to pack for a 21-day ski expedition, and how to navigate in the tundra — including offline map apps and dedicated GPS devices loaded with regional maps. Camp cooking and stoves — nutrition and campcraft; bear safety and the outdoor ethics code — safety and trail conduct.

In my view, Arctic safety begins with an honest assessment of both the weather and your own limits. I discuss this openly — when to turn back, how to keep the group together in a blizzard, and why it’s crucial on the Kola Peninsula to carry surplus stove fuel above 400 m in the woodless tundra.

Routes Abroad and in the Mountains of Russia

The Kola Peninsula is home, but it’s not the only focus of this blog. On Turkey — stage-by-stage Lycian Way guides, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, and logistics out of Antalya. Other international trails include Svaneti, Kyrgyzstan, and photo stories from Iceland.

In Russia — mountain journeys: the Chuya Highway, Sulak Canyon, and the Potanin Glacier in the Urals. Remote northern expeditions — the Arctic, Kamchatka, Chukotka, and the Ponoy River. For each post, I focus on practical insights — season, gear, logistics — rather than just scenic pictures.

Multi-day summer backpacking routes can be easily tracked under trekking, while shorter hiking trails are grouped under day hikes. This allows you to clearly separate a week-long Lycian Way trek from a day hike to the Eternal Flames of Chimaera.

Join a Guided Expedition

The blog reflects real experience in words and images. If you want to tackle a route with an experienced guide and seamless logistics, explore our tour schedule on the Kola Peninsula. We lead winter ski expeditions, summer trekking trips, and introductory programs for those new to the North.

Read the blog before your journey — choose the tags that match your skill level and season, build your gear checklist, and ask questions directly in the comments. The North is generous to those who prepare, and unforgiving to those who leave things to chance. See you on the trail.