Volcanology Research - Kamchatka, Russia

A summer of conducting volcanology research as part of the Russian Travel Geek citizen science project in the far-eastern Kamchatkan Peninsula of Russia. Erupting volcano scares, bears, crossing many miles across active lava flows, mars-like terrain, Soviet geology camps and a great science-minded crew.

Arriving in the tiny airport of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatskiy. Already surrounded by active volcanoes. This is one of the most active volcanic regions in the world.

Fortunate to be joining one of my best friends on this expedition. Maria is an amazing human being. She and I have been on many, many adventures together.

Our transport to the field camps was on a converted Soviet military vehicle.

It took us about 3 days total to get to our drop-off point. These vehicles are absolute monsters and can cover terrain that would strand most other cars.

Old Soviet geology camp that is still staffed by a skeleton crew of dedicated Russian geologists monitoring the active volcanoes in the area. Yes, this hut has been rebuilt several times due to lava flows.

Figuring out where to go when socked in with clouds. Everything is a giant lava field, so it’s easy to get lost and you have to make sure you avoid the marked active lava flows or get into serious, dangerous problems.

Primary scientist and I discussing the optimal strategy to minimize risk as we cross the river.

Sometimes you just have to make a line of your strongest humans and force your way across.

Alien-like lava fields stretching for almost a hundred miles. It’s absolutely crazy, mars-like terrain out here.

Finding the goods! Bright volcanic minerals. Our packs got heavier with each day because of the specimens we were collecting. Not your typical backcountry expedition.

Demonstrating that it’s hot enough to warm up from the radiating heat of lava flows beneath the surface. We were able to boil water for tea on top of one rock section.

Kirill, a Russian volcanologist with his self-igniting light saber.

Exploring lava tube formations

The best part of going on an expedition with one of your best friends is you get to spend so much time together, forming new memories, supporting each other, reenacting the Titanic.

Smaller erupting volcano called Tolbachik.

Setting up camp. We cooked for the whole group in these large cauldrons. Simple, but nutritious food. Pretty much taken from the Soviet expedition handbook. 100g grain/per person/meal; dried vegetables; canned meat.

Warming up in the evenings after long days.

More visions of camp life. Here we’d found an abandoned, half-blown-down shack and used it for shelter.

Negotiating snowfields and scree

Waterfall showers

We were a large enough group (and loud enough), that Kamchatkan grizzlies were not an issue, however we did catch them keeping an eye on us as we wearily did the same.

Cute camp residents that always managed to get into our provisions. The Russian relatives of the PNW snafflehounds

More samples and specimens to weigh us down

Some volcanic scrambling. Lava is basically like glass, so you have to be extremely careful where you put your hands and feet to make sure you don’t end up with deep lacerations.

A special kind of volcanic formation that the Russians call ‘pennies’. We collected almost a thousand for scientific study and analysis in Moscow.

Another Soviet geology camp to shelter in for the evening

Huddled for warmth like the ground squirrels we saw

Journaling and sketching

Windy captures by the brilliant Maksim Tarasov.

Huddled for warmth in our geology cabin, looking out at the lava flows

You find weird things out in the Kamchatkan wilderness. Probably constructed by some bored (or stranded) geologists back in the Soviet era.

What is a diving mask doing here???

Frolicking in the brief sunlight of the evening.

After many many days out collecting samples, crossing this mars-like alien terrain, it was time for Vova, our military-truck-driver to come pick us up.