The research trip I am on is super awesome. The people, fluent in both English and Russian, ask exactly the questions I would like to ask but cannot due to my lack of words. We've interviewed reindeer herders and many others about climate change, oil/gas development and encroachment, social issues (no young people want to herd, etc.).
And we just came from a town called Indiga (pop 800) to a town called Krasnoe. I was terrified cause we have traveled in teeny old russian-made bi-wing planes. From Indiga we snomobiled to a herder's chum (teepee) where we stayed overnight. I rode a sledge drawn by reindeer under a brilliant corona of northern lights and also lassoed a reindeer on my first try, with a rope made of reindeer skin, from a herd of 2000 deer that circled around us on a small hill. it was awesome. the interviews on the project are great too....
if i fall off the face of the planet, assume i've made it to some family based truly nomadic herder's camp, where i will try to stay as long as possible (1-3 weeks/months).
also, unfortunately, 150 km of bumping in a sled behind a snowmobile has killed my camera. i am very unhappy about the prospect.
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