Even People Experience Bushcraft in Kamchatka

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1Arrival Yelizovo

DAY 2Drive to Anavgai

DAY 3Belaya river herder´s base

DAY 4Herder´s camp

DAY 5-9Even People herder´s camp

DAY 10Anavgai

DAY 11Anavgai

DAY 12Yelizovo

DAY 13Departure

• Climate
• Extreme
• Comfort
• Oeps
• Difficulty
• Medium
• Group
• International
• Physical
• High

Yakuti called them “lamutami,” and these herders called themselves “Even.” Most of the Even lived along the northern Sea of Okhotsk coastline. They came to Kamchatka about 150 years ago. Even culture comes from ancient groups who lived in Siberia and are based on the reindeer herding and hunting traditions. Unlike the Koriyak and Chukchi, Even keep small herds of reindeer for transportation. The Even’s reindeer were big and strong and a fair trade between Even and Koriyak gave Even 2 Koriyak reindeer for one Even animal. The Even rode their reindeer using a saddle. Traditionally they didn’t kill their reindeer for meat and used them for transportation and to hunt wild reindeer. Today most Even live in Anavgai and Esso villages, preserving their traditions.

Bystrinsky Nature Park is part of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site “Volcanoes of Kamchatka.” Bystrinsky Nature Park is an enticing wilderness area covering 1,325,000 hectares, located in the middle of the Kamchatka Peninsula in an area sometimes referred to as “Kamchatka’s Switzerland.”

Much of the terrain where we will be is high mountain tundra where the lichens grow which is the main food for the reindeer.

Temperatures

Temperatures in April range normally between 0ºC and -10ºC, but nights are usually colder (-10ºC to -20ºC). It is possible that the temperatures drop below -30ºC or more.

Activity

We help with herding and camp duties as instructed, helping to watch reindeer herds during calving against predation by wolves and predatory birds. This is camping in primitive conditions at a remote herd in the mountains. We can arrange teams to work with the Even people to constantly walk around the herd to scare off any predators. It might involve night time duty too. This is very rigorous. Divide up the chores that must be done every day. That includes searching for and cutting firewood, splitting the firewood. Other chores include hauling water for cooking and cleaning, by walking to the stream/spring and bringing buckets of water to their tent. Someone will have to help the chume worker to keep the stove warm and to help prepare food.

To feed the group the reindeer herders will kill one reindeer for meat. We help to butcher and to divide the meat. Each day the chume worker will have them bring some meat from the cache for cooking.

The herders this time of year keep watch over the reindeer as they must protect them from predators. We must help them and the Even herders walk slowly around the herd and watching for predatory birds or other animals like wolves, wolverine that might try to steal a calf. This must go on day and night…are you ready for some real life experience?

Accommodation

In local houses and guesthouse in city.

Guide

X-plore guide and local guide.