Nicolas Vanier, Siberia by amphibian
Between December 2013 and March 2014, Nicolas Vanier linked the Pacific coast to Lake Baikal by dog sled after more than 5,700 kilometres of winter, frozen rivers and solitude.
Michel Lagneau offers an aerial transposition: an amphibian follows the Amur, the great lakes, Mongolia and Buryatia to Olkhon Island.
A contemporary dog-sled odyssey.
Rivers, refuelling points, water landings and Siberian immensity.
Water landings make the itinerary much more coherent.
Manual coordinates and large natural references.
Understanding the flight
The aircraft does not replace the sled: it respectfully overflies it. Flying is a way to read the trace, the distances and the harshness of the scenery.
Water landings and refuelling points matter because they prevent the odyssey from becoming a simple airport line.
Before departure
- Use a long-range amphibian able to operate with little infrastructure.
- Prepare manual points before departure: Vanino, Leninskoye, Tongjiang, Heihe, Huma, Huzhong and Olkhon.
- Keep winter weather readable: cold, sometimes clear, but not unplayable.
- Fly low when terrain allows so the Amur and landscapes remain meaningful.
Suggested route
Pacific coast and Amur
Vladivostok, Vanino, Khabarovsk and then the Amur River establish the wild trace.
UHWW → UHHH
Sino-Russian border
Heihe, Blagoveshchensk, Huma, Huzhong and Lake Hulun create the long move inland.
UHBB → HUMA
Mongolia and Baikal
Bayan Ovoo, Batshireet, Mongonmorit, Kyakhta, Ulan-Ude and Olkhon close the odyssey.
ZMDA → UIUU
Experience tips
The story benefits from slowness. Each major river or lake should become a chapter, not just a waypoint.
Manual points are essential here: they are what truly tell the Wild Odyssey on the map.
Copyright Michel Lagneau 2014