One month ago, Christopher Pike of Eugene, Ore., along with four others completed what they’ve called “the first ever human-powered winter circumnavigation of Lake Baikal.”
Siberia’s Lake Baikal is considered the oldest and deepest lake, with an estimated age of 25 million years and a depth of 5,469 feet. More than 300 rivers and streams pour into the lake, which holds one-fifth of the world’s fresh water.
As reported by the Register-Guard, 39-year-old Pike, accompanied by Maikey Lopera, 40, also of Eugene, and three other men set out to conquer what is known as the “Blue Pearl of Siberia” in February.
The expedition quickly proved to be more of a challenge than the team had expected. Freezing temperatures made it difficult to light their stoves for food and heavy snowfall dictated that the team travel on roads more than they had hoped. When things started to warm up, however, the crew faced a different problem: the ice became so slick that mounting their bicycles was nearly impossible.
The expedition was completed in only 36 days, and Pike and his crew documented the victory on their blog on April 4.
Pike, Lopera, and the rest of the group acknowledge that their claim to have circumnavigated all of Baikal could be disputed, considering they cut a corner on the Northeast part of the lake.
Pike told the Register-Guard, “It’s an imperfect circumnavigation. We hit all the major points on the shoreline, and if we add up all the miles, they are equal to going around the lake … it’s basically a circumnavigation.”
Click here to read more about the expedition.
[Via: Register-Guard]
