Don’t miss the unique season in Baikal! 3 ideas from an experienced traveler for a trip

President of Pro-Vision, author of the Vinogradov.story community

At the very beginning of March, when the first spring winds blow away the February snow, a unique natural season comes to Eastern Siberia – the season of Baikal ice. It is not open to everyone and not always, but if it is open, it is love at first sight. How to spend an active weekend on the still winter Baikal, I will tell you below.

Skating on ice

They say about such phenomena: “Scary beautiful”. When you first step on the Baikal ice, clear as glass and emphatically fragile, it seems that the next step will definitely be your last. But the first impression is deceptive: at the beginning of the last century, when Circum-Baikal railroad was not built yet, a railroad was even laid on the lake ice.

And if the monolithic Baikal ice could withstand multi-ton rails, then a group of skaters can do it all the more. The key points for skating are the Maloye Sea, Cape Khoboy and Bolshoye Goloustnoye, where billions of methane bubbles crash into the ice.

And, of course, Listvyanka: on sunny weekends, when the whole Irkutsk gathers here, there is a chance not only to skate yourself, but also to catch an ice show, which looks incredible in the Baikal scenery.

To the ice caves on “Khivus”

The most impressive locations of Baikal are also the most difficult to reach. You can get to them by “Khivus” – amphibious hovercrafts that “float” over the ice at quite a decent speed.

A trip on “Khivus” can be called if not extreme, then exotic for sure: they are actively used by rescuers and patrols, while they do not carry passengers so often.

The “Khivus” gives an opportunity to see the majestic hummocks formed by the collision of ice blocks, and sokuys crashing into rocks, and multi-layered storm surges. Bonus are stops “on demand” and a million photos in the top Baikal locations.

Combined hike along Baikal

Experienced prepared travelers have a special offer available on Baikal: a combined multi-day hike on skates or skis. In a few days you can cross the lake from west to east or go around Olkhon.

You will have to go also on foot – with crampons or ice shoes. You will have to bypass ice hummocks and open water, go ashore and go up to observation points to clarify the route. To freeze with delight at sunset, gazing into the starry sky. To “listen” to Baikal while lying on the ice. To feel the power of the elements and one’s own strength.

And every time to come back to the camp to taste real poses (buuzy), following the rule of “three O’s”: take a bite from the top, drink the liquid, and then eat and be amazed. The main thing to do before such a trip is to “burkhanize”, i.e. to placate the spirits with offerings. And there and to the fulfillment of wishes is not far away.

A bit of educational content

What is unique about Baikal ice and why is it so different from the familiar white ice somewhere on the Neva or Yauza? The fact is that Baikal freezes unevenly, in several stages:

• the first to give up heat is the surface layer; reaching 4°C, the cooled water gets heavier and sinks down, and its place is taken by water from the depths;
• this cycle continues until the water column reaches the same temperature;
• then the temperature of the upper layer begins to fall again, and at 0°C the water gradually crystallizes at a rate of about 5 cm per day;
• during freezing, air does not have time to rise to the surface, creating amazing textures in the ice thickness – elongated “carnations” topped with a bubble “cap” and round methane balls of different diameters; it looks very textured and unusual.

Baikal ice is an amazing phenomenon that can be told endlessly. But it is better to come, see, hear and keep in your memory thousands of amazing shades, shapes and textures.