Monomakh’s Hat

Project dates: June 25 – July 5, 2008

Project Duration:  11 days

Languages:  Russian & English

Project Location: The river Snezhnaya, not far from the settlement Novo-Snezhnie, which is in the Sludyanka Region, within the Irkutsk Oblast, in the Russian Federation.  

Setting: We can’t exactly call this a project on Baikal, as the stationary volunteer camp will be located some distance from the shore – about an hour’s walk.  However, this is more of an advantage than a drawback.  The camp will be situated in the territory of the rustic resort “Tyoplie ozera na Snezhnoi” (Warm Lakes on Snezhnaya).  This resort is located on a ridge of the Khamar-Daban mountain range, about 7 kilometers from Lake Baikal, along the rushing mountain river “Snezhnaya,” and on the banks of three beautiful forest lakes. The three lakes –Isumrudnoe (Emerald),  Skazochnoe (Fairy-tale), and Tyoploe (Warm) – are located deep in the forest at the foot of the mountain “Shapka Monomakha” (Monomakh’s Hat). In the summer, the water in the lakes heats up to 25-28 degrees Celsius, which is why the lakes are called “The Warm Lakes.”   The combination of the snow-covered peaks of the Khamar-Daban, amazing plants, clear glacier water in the river “Snezhnaya,” and the sandy beaches of the Warm Lakes create lasting impressions.   

In addition to interesting work, volunteers can expect incredible excursions and wonderful relaxation time in the Warm Lakes.

Long-term Goal: The creation of an ecological excursion trail on the territory of the Murinskii Forestry.  The trail will lead to the Warm Lakes and onto the mountain “Shapka Monomakha.”

Project Work: Building a switchback on the mountain “Shapka Monomakha,” cleaning trail corridors, and working on the trail bed.

Work Schedule: The group will work 5 days a week, 6 hours a day with rest breaks and a longer break for lunch. Please read the description of a typical day at the camp.  Depending upon weather conditions and the mood of the group, the crew leader has the authority to change the daily working schedule.

Meals and Accommodations: Volunteers will set up a stationary tent camp. You will live in primitive conditions: pit latrine, two-person tents or small rustic cabins, cooking over a campfire.

There will be three hot meals a day, and volunteers will share cooking and cleaning duties during the project.

The GBT staff will buy all the food in advance of the project.  See our MENU for examples.

Entertainment and Relaxation: The best relaxation after a day’s work is to swim in the Warm Lakes and explore the area.  On the weekend, there will be a boat ride on Baikal.

Contribution Fee: 8900 Rubles (approximately $380 US; please check the current exchange rate at http://www.cbr.ru/eng/currency_base/daily.asp. The contribution fee covers: a visa invitation from the GBT organization; meeting you at the airport or train station in Irkutsk; helping to arrange your accommodation in Irkutsk; visa registration with the Russian authorities; arranging transportation to the settlement “Novo-Snezhnii,” the project start (cost for transportation to the settlement “Novo-Snezhnii” is not included); transportation within the project; all meals on the project; services of a crew leader and interpreter during the project; all administrative expenses; project entertainment costs including week-end excursions; tools and other equipment, including a tent. 100% of the project fee goes for direct project expenses.

Required Experience: None

Age Range:  18+ years

Additional Requirements:  Please make sure to carefully read the General Information for Volunteers and the List of Necessary Equipment.

Fitness: Trail building includes: walking 1 - 4 kilometers a day through forested areas possibly with no paths; using pick, shovels, and other tools to dig out vegetation to make a path; lifting logs and other debris; hand sawing; and carrying tools.

Transportation and Meeting Location: Volunteers travel independently to Irkutsk. Once in Irkutsk, you will travel as a group by minibus or train to Novo-Snezhnii. In general, it takes 4-5 hours to get from Irkutsk to Novo-Snezhnii and costs between 300 and 500 rubles. If you have questions regarding transportation, contact our volunteer coordinator. 

Irkutsk by air:  Moscow – Irkutsk (5.5 hours)

Irkutsk by train:  Moscow – Irkutsk (3.5 days) 

Please note that your contribution fee does not include any expenses incurred while getting to the starting point of the project, the settlement “Novo-Snezhnii.”

Important Visa Information: Every foreigner traveling through Russia has to comply with the obligatory visa registration process in any location where you stay for more than three business days. Since this process takes two to three days, project participants should arrive in Irkutsk no later than June 23.

You can contact us at gbt.volunteers@gmail.com – Tatiana Yourchenko

If you are interested in participation, please fill in GBT volunteer application form

Project Personnel:

Project Manager: Yana Shevchenko, the manager of the rustic resort “Tyoplye Ozera na Snezhnoi.”

Responsibilities: The project manager is responsible for the overall planning, coordination and implementation of the project.  However, while the manager will be in frequent contact with the volunteer group throughout the duration of the project, he will not always be present at your project location.  Your crew leader will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the project.

Crew Leader: TBA. We will send you background information about your crewleader several weeks before the project starts.

Responsibilities: The main GBT staff member on the project, the crew leader coordinates the day-to-day trail work and the organization of the camp.

Translator: TBA

Responsibilities: The translator is responsible for translating for the crew leader (who may or may not speak English) and helping with communication between Russian- and English-speaking crew members. The translator also plans and conducts the social activities of the group. 

contact us