Severobayikalsk

In connection with the project on a section of Lake Baikal’s shore between the
Slyudyanski lakes to BaikalskoeVillage

Preparatory work: Agreement on the trail’s path with the Severobaikalsk Region Department of Tourism and the Severobaikalsk region; Assembly of three teams of local volunteers; Sketching construction of the trails; Purchase of tools, equipment and supplies; Preparing accommodations and food for the volunteers; Instructing the local team-leaders at a seminar in Bolshoe Goloustnoe.

Organization of the Work: The base team of volunteers was housed at the tourist base “Echo” at the Slyudyanski lakes. The first three days of work were spent within three miles of the base. Breakfast and dinner were held at the tour base, while lunch was cooked by rotation on campfires by the volunteers themselves. The volunteers walked to and from work. On the fourth day the team relocated their tents to the base camp next to the work area, bringing with them food to be cooked over fires.
With permission of the local forest service – which was formed for the collection of firewood – the existing trail was cleared without any further earthworks. In one section, where there had been a forest fire one month previously, the trail was laid in the most convenient and expedient route.
The early work was done on an old trail, which leads to a mica mine on the high and picturesque slope of Slyudyanski Mountain. Here in the 1930s GULAG prisoners worked. This durable construction of the trail tread from 70 years ago is testimony to the fact that quality work will last a long time.
Students of Baikal Middle School in Baikalskoe Village came to meet the base team of volunteers.
Organization of the construction work was handled by two people: team-leader Kochergin Vyacheslav, who has trail-building experience north of Baikal and who was trained at a seminar for team-leaders in Bolshoe Goloustnoe, and a volunteer from the US, the experienced trail-builder John Spezia. This combined the best of both countries.
In order to make the most rational use of their abilities -- taking into account the inauspicious weather conditions (lots of rainy days) -- the group of volunteers from the Tahoe-Baikal Institute was charged with developing interpretation (explanatory materials) for the Slyudyanski mine sites section of the trail, which they did with enthusiasm at a very high level.
The coordinator of the project personally handled the material and technical supplies, answered current domestic and economic questions, and organized educational excursions.
As a result of advertising the idea of the trail, three Severobaikalsk schools to the project on Severobaikalsk’s territory and took a section of the trail 2-3 km in length and began clearing and studying in order to prepare the documents for the official registration of the trail.

Primary Results:

• Cleared of fallen trees and bushes 6.7 km of trail;
• Development and preparation of interpretation;
• (explanatory information) 1.0 km;

Benefits from the involvement of following organizations:

• Liceum Group “Cedar” ShTEO 15 people 105 pers-days 420 pers-hrs;
• School group “guides-translators” 12 people 36 pers-days 144 pers-hrs;
• School group BCSh 5 people 20 pers-days 80 pers-hrs;
• Group of foreign and Russian volunteers;
• “Earth Island” 13 people 104 pers-days 782 pers-hrs;
• Tahoe-Baikal Institute 5 people 35 pers-days 274 pers-hrs;
• Total: 50 people 299 pers-days 1100 pers-hrs.
• Work expended per meter of trail 0.164 pers-hrs

Primary Outcomes and Suggestions for 2004

1. It is necessary to agree on all matters concerning the trail with the local forest service and local government during the winter.
2. Recently burned areas are convenient places for laying the trail.
3. Work connected with interpretation (explanatory materials) allows qualified cadres to work in bad weather.
4. In open areas (pebbled areas, sandy areas, steppe slopes, etc.) it was not necessary to build a trail tread; usually it was sufficient to post directions, maps, or small markers.
5. A regional seminar on construction of the GBT will be necessary for those who wish to take part in the project in 2004.