Kamchatka volcano tour Sep 2017 - tour diary
During 3-18 Sep 2017, Tom and 10 participants went on our first pilot tour to Kamchatka. Overall, the tour was fantastic!
Highlights included a 3 days stay at remote Karymsky volcano, exceptionally good weather conditions for Gorely, Mutnovsky, Uzon and Valley of Geysers, Klyuchevskoy volcano, a large explosion from Sheveluch, great company and lots of fun! The following is a quick first impression of the tour in pictures sorted chronologically.
Highlights included a 3 days stay at remote Karymsky volcano, exceptionally good weather conditions for Gorely, Mutnovsky, Uzon and Valley of Geysers, Klyuchevskoy volcano, a large explosion from Sheveluch, great company and lots of fun! The following is a quick first impression of the tour in pictures sorted chronologically.
2 Sep 2017: The longest domestic flight in the world, Moscow-Petropavlowsk (7-8 hours), is almost ov... [info]
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Koryaksky's neighbor volcano, Avachinsky follows a few moments later to the left. (Photo: Tom Pfeiff... [info]
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After the plane turned 180 deg into the western landing approach path, another volcano comes into th... [info]
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The flatlands of the Avacha river delta with the southern plateau. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Meandering arms and swamps of the Avacha river. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Arrived! People leave the small luggage delivery room of the airport and are greeted by unusually go... [info]
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View of my simple, but comfortable hotel room. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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3 Sep: the group has all gathered and we decide to leave already today to Karymsky as a small Pacifi... [info]
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After a short drive, we change our transportation vehicle... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Everybody on board (almost)! (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The Russian helicopter inside is surprisingly spacious. We have everything we need and more for 3 da... [info]
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View of some tundra-covered low mountains during the flight towards ... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Karymsky volcano! (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The helicopter keeps the engine running while we unload everything to return as soon as possible, be... [info]
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The helicopter leaves. The cozy volcanologists' hut where we will spend the next days is visible in ... [info]
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Beautiful dark red wild flowers grow on the fields with steaming Karymsky volcano behind. (Photo: To... [info]
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Volcanologist Dimitris from the Volcanological Institute has come with us to take spectroscopic gas ... [info]
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Volcanologist Alexei Ozerov from the Institute also has joined us and is giving a lecture about Kamc... [info]
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Dinner in the hut: (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The food is plenty and tasty, especially if one likes sea food and fish: Caviar, smoked and fresh sa... [info]
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5 Sep: after the announced cyclon which brought heavy winds and constant rain from the evening of 3 ... [info]
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Ronny examines a rather fresh bear's footprint on the ash plain. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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We take a hike (about 6 km one way) through the caldera towards the crater lake of Akademia Nauk. (P... [info]
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The crater lake of Akademia Nauk from the southern shore. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Warm springs in a natural hot pool at the small river near the hut provide an excellent way to warm ... [info]
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Our superb team's core are our guide Andrey and the cook Alena. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Karymsky during the night: although it had intermittent explosions during the months before, the vol... [info]
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6 Sep: nevertheless, we had a fantastic time in this unique and remote place. Group photo. (Photo: T... [info]
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The gas plume from the volcano is more or less drifting over us today as dry high-pressure weather h... [info]
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View of the small river and Karaymsky in the background from a hill near the hut. (Photo: Tom Pfeiff... [info]
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3 days have passed quickly: it's time to pack luggage, clean the hut and prepare for our departure. ... [info]
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Back in the helicopter, we have spectacular aerial views today: this is the crater lake of Akademia ... [info]
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On our request, the helicopter pilots agree to fly a round over Karymsky's steep and deep crater. (P... [info]
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The summit cone of Karymsky with parts of the Karymsky caldera walls behind. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The active caldera lake of Akademia Nauk volcano southeast of Karymsky seen from the helicopter. (Ph... [info]
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We pass snow-covered Zhupanovsky volcano as we fly southwards. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Foothills of Zhupanovsky massiv. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Tundra and rocky mountain tops. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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We approach the chain of Avachinsky and Koryaksky volcanoes. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Koryaksky volcano from the SW. Thanks to the past rain storm, the snow cover has grown considerably.... [info]
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Koryaksky looming over the plain, seen shortly before landing again at the heliport near Elizovo tow... [info]
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Kamchatka's famous stone birch trees. Their wood is unusually strong and hard, which explains their ... [info]
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7 Nov: we're inside our truck on our way to the southern plateau. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View from a bridge over a river. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View towards Vilyuchik volcano from the south. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The weather could not be better for landscape photography. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Campsite in the caldera of Gorely volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Vilyuchik volcano is always visible behind as we decide to climb Gorely in the afternoon. (Photo: To... [info]
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The trail over old lava flow fields of Gorely is easy to walk, gently climbing for about 8 km and 80... [info]
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View towards Vilyuchik volcano from the lava fields of Gorely. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Stefan on the last, a bit steeper part of the trail below the summit. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View over Gorely's SE summit crater towards the SE, where the summit of neighboring Mutnovsky volcan... [info]
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The crater lake of the central summit crater of Gorely is partially frozen. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Lava layers from effusive and explosive eruptions of Gorely's crater. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The NW crater of Gorely, site of the most recent episode of unrest at the volcano during 2013-14 whe... [info]
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Wider view of the NW crater of Gorely. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Last sunlight paints the inner crater walls with red light. Note the silhouettes of some hikers for ... [info]
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A cinder cone on Gorely's NE flank. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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A brilliant orange moonrise over the eastern horizon's mountain peaks. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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8 Sep: we hike to the crater of Mutnovsky volcano.. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The trail is mostly over glacial moraine and debris avalanche ground through the large valley that b... [info]
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After some time walking, we realize that we are actually on the glacier. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Zoom onto the meltwater flow at the bottom of the glacier. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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As we are close to the central crater area, Markus takes pictures from a viewpoint. (Photo: Tom Pfei... [info]
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The last section of the trail before reaching the summit crater floor. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Beautiful parallel volcanic dykes cutting the altered tuff and lava layers of the crater walls. (Pho... [info]
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Thanks to intense hydrothermal activity, much of the exposed rocks from the crater walls and the gro... [info]
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View of a strong fumarole in the crater wall beneath the massive glacier occupying the southern part... [info]
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Altered volcanic rocks (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Steam plume and crevasses of the glacier behind. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Gas escaping from a sulfur-covered fumarole. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Abstract shapes and lines from fine-grained mud deposits near a fumarole. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Hot mud ponds are found in many spots in the alien crater area of Mutnovsky. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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On our way to the southwestern crater we have to pass a tongue of ice from the crater glacier. (Pho... [info]
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Bizarre landscape of altered rocks and ice fields. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Almost reaching the SW end of the crater. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The site of the last eruption in 2000 is now only a shallow depression occupied by ice. (Photo: Tom ... [info]
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Ropes help ascending the wall between the central and SW crater. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Wide-angle view into the SW crater with the strongest fumarole emitting a dense steam plume. (Photo:... [info]
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Gypsum crystals and sulfur deposits that have formed by the fumarolic activity abound everywhere. (P... [info]
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Steam vents. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Gray-bluish hot pool (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Small pond reflecting a fumarole's steam plume. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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A vigorously boiling mud pool. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The mud fountain boiling in the middle of the pond is about 1-2 meters high. Taking pictures of the ... [info]
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Elemental sulfur deposits form by sublimation around a fumarole. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View of dykes cutting the altered volcanic layers of the crater walls. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Zoom onto ice layers of the glacier's tongue filling the NW valley. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View over Gorely shield volcano in the evening light. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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A deep canyon ("dangerous canyon") with vertical walls and a waterfall about 50 m tall is formed by ... [info]
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Eroded old volcanic dyke in the foothills of Mutnovsky. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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9 Sep: before returning to Elizovo, we explore a lava tube from Gorely volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer... [info]
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A small glacier occupies parts of the 20 m wide tube. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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A ladder is conveniently placed to descend from the tube's glacier into its deeper parts. (Photo: To... [info]
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Glassy formations of lavasickles cover much of the walls: when active, the walls of the tube were co... [info]
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10 Sep: the exceptionally good weather from the past days is gone, but today is only a long transfer... [info]
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Local delicacies on offer inside one of the many small shops. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Rusted waste somewhere along the long road to Kozyrevsk. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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In Milkovo town, about half way, we briefly stop at Elena's (our cook's) parents' home to stock up o... [info]
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Soviet-style appartment blocks in Milkovo. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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A small fountain near the center of the town waits for visitors. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Textures and colors are amazing. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Rust and faded wall posts. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Green wood (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Autumn leaves (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The second part of the long transfer suddenly becomes much more fun when a bottle of Vodka appears f... [info]
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The long gravel road towards the north, though seemingly endless forests. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View of my cozy cabin of the guesthouse. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Finally, we've arrived in the guesthouse in the Siberian village of Kozyrevsk. It is very comfortabl... [info]
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11 Sep: we're on our way towards the western flank of Tolbachik volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Red and yellow colors mix with various shades of green. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The drive takes about 2 hours through beautiful autumn-colored forest. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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After the forest, we reach the tundra - glowing red and yellow. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Karl is excited about the colors and takes picture after picture. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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A small erosion gully exposes the youngest volcanic layers from Tolbachik: different ash and pumice ... [info]
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The tundra at this time of year is full of berries (cranberries and blueberries)... (Photo: Tom Pfei... [info]
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Unfortunately, the weather stays foggy. But our moods are lit up by a campfire and more... (Photo: T... [info]
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(248 Hits)
The massive northern flank of Tolbachik volcano briefly comes into sight from our position at Stolik... [info]
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(249 Hits)
12 Sep: as the weather forecast is promising an improvement, we directly go to Sheveluch volcano, ap... [info]
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Setting up camp in the pyroclastic flow field at about 10 km distance from the lava dome. (Photo: To... [info]
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Campfire at night while waiting for clear skies. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(278 Hits)
13 Sep: A large explosion occurrs in the morning, producing a towering ash column that rises 7-8 km ... [info]
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View towards the summit of Sheveluch and its lava dome, both remaining hidden in clouds, unfortunate... [info]
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View of the southern rims of the older Sheveluch volcano's collapse crater. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Skeletons of trees killed by pyroclastic flows about 3-5 years ago remind us that it's not a good id... [info]
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New life grows on the devastation area. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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On our way to Klyuchevskoy volcano we stop in Klyuchi village. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Colorful decoration of a street light. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Evening view of majestic Klyuchevskoy volcano: rising to more than 4800 m elevation from almost sea ... [info]
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Evening view of the small volcanologists' mountain hut. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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14 Sep: morning view of snow-covered Klyuchevskoy volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Some put their tents on the ridge formed by an old, large eruptive fissure. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View back towards Sheveluch volcano emitting a steam plume. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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We have hiked about 2 hours to reach the "Konus D" cinder cone on the NE flank, where volcanologists... [info]
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(240 Hits)
Night-time view of Klyuchevsky volcano. No lava is visible this time. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(246 Hits)
15 Sep: Winter greeting: over night, a snow front passed, letting temperatures drop to minus 5-10, c... [info]
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Now, the snow also covered the cones we climbed yesterday. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Back to our comfortable guesthouse in Kozyrevsk village. Karl finds a new friend. (Photo: Tom Pfeif... [info]
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Moment of peace and happiness. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Shortly before sunset, the sun comes out from below a dense cloud deck, paining the forest yellow. (... [info]
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16 Sep: transfer day. In the afternoon, we get a brief view of Bakening volcano during our drive bac... [info]
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Evening view of Koryaksky volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(224 Hits)
17 Sep: helicopter excursion to Uzon caldera and Valley of Geysers. On our way, we pass erupting Zhu... [info]
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View of the beautiful tundra below. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(227 Hits)
View back to Zhupanovsky volcano from the north. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(291 Hits)
An announcement by the flight attendant: we are about to reach and overfly Karymsky volcano. (Photo:... [info]
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The young stratocone of Karymsky is composed mainly by viscous lava flows occupying a circular calde... [info]
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As the helicopter passes at near distance, we also get a good view into the crater. (Photo: Tom Pfei... [info]
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Next announcement by the stewardess: Maly Semiachik volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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A turquoise acid crater lake occupies the summit crater of Maly Semiachik. It is one of the most aci... [info]
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Reaching Uzon caldera. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The caldera is approx. 8-12 km wide and was formed by multiple large explosive eruptions in the past... [info]
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The flat floor of the caldera contains lakes and tundra. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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It is also the largest and most active geothermal field in Kamchatka. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(227 Hits)
First stop as the helicopter has landed near the rangers' station. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Colorful ground and small rivers. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Partially dried-up mud ponds. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Circular mud pond about 3 meters across. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(245 Hits)
Steam vents are seem in many places. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Autumn and mineral colors mix beautifully. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(228 Hits)
Small ponds (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View onto the landscape on the way to the next stop, the Valley of Geysers, a short 5 mins flight aw... [info]
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Red mud volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Area with numerous hot springs. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Array of small geysers (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Bubbling spring (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(205 Hits)
Light curtains (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(227 Hits)
An eruption of the "Big Geyser" ejects jets of steam and water to about 10 meters height. (Photo: To... [info]
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On the way back, we pass Zhupanovsky volcano again, which now emits only a dense steam plume. (Photo... [info]
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(222 Hits)
Some take the opportunity of a natural warm spring. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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The water is so nice and warm that it's difficult to get out of it again. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Evening view of Koryaksky (l) and Avachinsky (r) volcanoes from a field near our dacha (guesthouse).... [info]
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(225 Hits)
18 Sep: early morning view over the Avachinsky Bay. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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View acorss the fog-covered bay towards Vilyuchinsky volcano. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(188 Hits)
Our last excursion is a motor boat tour around the bay. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Famous Kamchatka crab. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(228 Hits)
The "3 brothers", eroded sea pillars near the exit of the bay to the open Pacific. (Photo: Tom Pfeif... [info]
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(239 Hits)
The excursion is lot of fun as we try our fishing skills. Britta already catches her lunch quickly. ... [info]
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(238 Hits)
Livia has success, too, in the end... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Dramatic coastlines of eroded volcanic rocks. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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We also catch a large king crab. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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And a diver brings up a bucket of sea urchins. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Columnar-jointed lava formations. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Many sea birds also inhabit the area. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Sea lions relaxing in the (for them) fine weather. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(222 Hits)
Lunch on board: salmon soup, fresh sushi, sea urchin and fried fish from our catch. (Photo: Tom Pfei... [info]
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Plus, of course, (but only outside on deck), "all you can eat" Kamchatka crab. Livia is very happy! ... [info]
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(268 Hits)
Afternoon stroll through downtown of Petropawlowsk. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Stairway near the theatre. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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Kamchatka's symbols: bears and... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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(243 Hits)
... the volcanoes! group photo at the "Russia begins here" monument. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [info]
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