Vodlozersky National Park

Tim collects water from the Illeksa river mid-way into a Banya session at Novguda ranger station (Vodlozersky National park).

The group begins to cross a particularly wide swamp in Vodlozersky National park The mud and water can be very deep, and very cold.

The remains of the abandoned village of Luza stand still in time This entire village was evacuated by the powers of Stalinist collectivism in 1951 It is surrounded by the virgin forests of Vodlozersky National park.

A ranger ferries part of the group out onto lake Vodlozersky where it waits to take us to the starting point of a two week wilderness hike.

The river Illeksa draped in a morning mist

The old fish stores of the abandoned village of Luza lie near the banks of a lake.

Harri leads the group along the frozen crust of a swamp on a particularly cold Autumn morning The lake to his right is just beginning to freeze over.

Tim with the ranger's dog at Novguda, the end of the first Voldozersky journey It had been a two week wilderness trek, mostly through virgin forests (and swamps) From here it is a boat ride back along lake Vodlozersky to the nearest village.

Using her backpack, birch branches, and shelter, Veronica crosses a tributary of the Ileksa river.

Cranberries lie for the taking on a Russian 'Bolota' (swamp).

Dmitry walks to the end of the rickety pier to greet the boat on Lake Vodlozersky The boat has just arrived to pick up the wilderness guide crew and take them to the starting point of a two week wilderness trek Autumn snow clouds the air.