Update
24th April 2006
Unfortunately Karl and Dimitris’ money has run out so they are unable to make phone-calls and as we are unable to phone them, then we are relying on very limited e-mails for information. While it has been extremely difficult to get any money to them, we may be able to rectify that problem shortly and they could have some money by Monday (24th). Which will be good news to them as they have had to tighten their belts somewhat recently. Dimitri had picked up an infection on his hip last week which was dealt with immediately by the hospital and necessitated him staying there for the weekend. It would appear that all will be OK though. It was hoped that Karl and Dimitri would be down in Anadyr by now but as there is only one aircraft per week hopefully they may get a flight on Wednesday. We are still working on the premise that the appeal hearing could be heard within the next couple of weeks. Just a quick apology for not updating that ‘latest photos’ for a while. Because of the court cases the authorities have had to hold on to the cameras and consequently we have no shots of the Bering Straits crossing.
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infection on the “hip”. I got one of those in a foreign country once, but mine dripped.
Karl(or karl’s dad), what is your take on the opinion that your illegal crossing will result in a harder time for the indeginous folks of the area to do the same legally? What I gather is that this is another classic case of a european white guy entering a foriegn land and acting like its his right to do as he pleases for his own self-gratifcation, regardless of local customs.
Is there nothing that can be done? Surely, given the inspiration this has given people, the government should be able to step in and do something to help the situation, especially since karl certainly gave his time to the country back whe he was in the military.
If there’s anything…not wishing to sound like a school kid, but a petition to try and pressure the important people to help out…I know you all have the support of a lot of people!
Dear Comment,
I don’t believe this will affect the crossings of the local indigenous people as I feel they don’t use that particular crossing point as the ice is dangerous and can take weeks to cross. I imagine they will fly from Provideniya to Nome and back thereby using an official entry and exit point.
Please note that we have never said or indicated in any way that Karl has the right or expects to wander unhindered through anyone’s land. Some comments may give the impression that he should be allowed to and that the Russians have been wrong. We have never said this nor shall we. Come the appeal Karl will ask if he can be allowed to continue and the rest is up to the Court.
Best of luck to Karl and Dimitri. We travelled through Russia in 2004 from Vladivostok to St Petersburg, but only by train. Thought that was pretty hard, but nothing compared to what Karl is attempting.
For what it’s worth, I think the approach you are taking is the correct one. The Russian authorities are only doing their job and it’s best to be polite and follow procedures as far as possible. From experience I know that within Russia they are very, very sensitive about foreigners moving about, far more than in most countries. We got our passports checked by the police, for example, when just waiting for a train in Yekaterinburg. The powers-that-be don’t like people just wandering where they want, so from that point of view there is no doubt that Karl and Dimitri have annoyed them and broken the rules in a big way, albeit unavoidably.
On the other hand, we have found on our travels (40 countries so far) that being patient, persistent and polite but firm usually pays dividends in the long run. This worked for us in Moscow when we were told we had missing stamps in our documents. We just patiently and politely sat it out, and finally a higher-up guy came and sorted out the problem. That’s how things usually work in Russia. But what Karl is attempting is something the Russian authorities will probably find hard to swallow, i.e. passing through uninhabited areas gradually over a long period. Ultimately, string-pulling (if possible) may be the only practical solution.
Just a few thoughts. As I said before, best of luck, and keep up the inspiring work.
The guy who didn’t bother to post his name is yet another product of the American university system which blames white people for all the world’s ills.
First of all, the local Natives have the right to pass back and forth without restriction. The Natives on the Russian side consider themselves to be Russian, the Natives on the American side are Americans.
Karl entered Russia, which is a European country populated largely by white folks. He was not arrested for violation of “local customs” but for illegally entering Russia.
Sunday 08:51 AM
Siberian Yupik Natives still have to get official invitations, obtain border passes, and get authorizations for visa-free entry. The procedure still takes several months. They just don’t have to pay for the visas, that’s the only difference. They would go to jail for doing what Karl did, even though this is their land.
I’m confused. James keeps saying local folks can pass back and forth with out restriction, was from what I can tell is a full on lie. Why lie?
Hi there
just want to say good luck to K and D for the appeal. As sombody has said above i really think that the guys are going about it the right way so everything is crossed for them.
good luck guys
On the issue of travel across the Bering Strait, there is a special agreement on visa-free travel for natives resident in commmunities along the coast. There is still a requirement to obtain an official invitation issued from the Russian authorities for travel to the Russian side.
In 2004, a similar crossing was made by two Canadian adventurers, although they were in a small row-boat. They intended to circle the planet in an entirely self-propelled manner, and they also ran into bureaucratic troubles in Chukotka. In their case, they entered with the appropriate documents and through one of the designated ports of entry (Provideniya). However, they were later forced to hire a local guide to accompany them to the border of Chukotka with Sakha, as that is a requirement for any travel in a special border area.
Their website is http://www.expeditionplanetearth.com/index.html
Hindsight is 20/20, but it is truly unfortunate that Karl did not contact one of the designated tourism operators listed on Chukotka’s official website (www.chukotka.org). They would have been able to explain the visa regulations and to act on his behalf in Chukotka. There have been many successful crossings of the Bering Strait by various expeditions, and most of them have not met serious paperpwork difficulty.
A final point. There is an MDM Bank in Anadyr, with branches at both the airport and in town. You can take cash advances from a VISA card from them, and they also have Western Union transfer services.
Always do your homework.
If Karl is being driven around Russia, and not walking, does that mean, technically, he is not accomplishing his goal? At this point he is no longer walking around the world with unbroken footsteps He is being carted around by Russian officials Not that this was his doing but it seems to defeat the purpose
karl has been driving, flying, etc. back and forth and all about including three helicopter/snow mobile rescues. so his trek is not about continous steps-thats just a selling point. on the other hand that doesn’t discount his effort.
If his trip isn’t about “continuous steps” then why doesn’t he just drive the rest of the way? At this point it would probably cut about 5 years off the journey, and if the trip isn’t about continuous footsteps then it wouldn’t discount the effort.
If his trip isn’t about “continuous steps” then why doesn’t he just drive the rest of the way? At this point it would probably cut about 5 years off the journey, and if the trip isn’t about continuous footsteps then it wouldn’t discount the effort.
Well if he drove the rest of the way, someone might ask how many times was he rescued, and that could get akward for our “hero’s in there own minds” boys. Best not to bring the subject up of who paid for the rescues, or the private cabins Karl stayed at without permission.
The trip is comprised of continous footsteps. However in the modern world we live in, there is the issue of visas and other red tape to be dealt with. As soon as bureaucratic problems are resolved, Karl goes back to exactly where he was left off and continues on his journey by foot. What is the real difference if he was able to remain and hang out in a village for a few days or months or if he gets into a vehicle?
Sure, he needed to be rescued. It is a epic effort and there are bound to be dangerous events. Does it fail the goal of the journey? To walk around the world.
Karl once said something to the effect that if you have to ask why would someone do such a thing, they will never understand. I love to go on long hikes in my city, and am always interested in covering new ground, curious to see what is beyond the horizion (when I am up on a mountainous hill), and if/how to get around possible blocks (lack of sidewalks, dicey neighborhood, no visible crossing by a highway). Some people would find it boring and a waste of time. The same kind of person who would zip to everything including the corner store in their car. You have to be in a certain mindset for it, one that is meditative, paitent, and curious.
Karl is not a hero in the sense that I also don’t think football or other hotshot generously paid sports players are heros, though they get labled as such often by the public. He is an adventurer though, and has captured the imagination of many, myself included.
Gratutious snarky comments are always going to follow anyone who tries to step outside of their percieved limitations.
I am not trying to say that what Karl is doing is not extremely interesting and difficult. I’m on the site right?
All I am saying is that there are many ways to explore a land, its people, and the culture…or for that matter the world. Does spending countless months walking, from town A to town B with little time for the people there aid in understanding a country’s culture? Maybe.
I just think if you can rationalize that the journey can be interrupted and it doesn’t change anything, than you should be able to rationalize why driving it would be essentially the same.
On this site it says Karl’s goal is to “walk to world with continuous steps” All I am saying is he hasn’t done that, and let’s not pretend he has.
It doesn’t discredit the effort, but if that was the original goal it was not accomplished.
“Snarky” was not pointed at you, Matt..though I do think the description of continous footsteps is accurate.
It may not be number one priority to learn about the culture, although that will happen as he moves through a country. It may be about moving through the landscape at a speed that one can really take in the surroundings. When I go for long hikes, it is not to interact with other people, it is to interact with the land around me.
Everone could make a different focus on a world wide trip whether it be learning more about the locals, the art, the politics, or the land itself,
I completely understand walking gives one a different connection to the land. I guess I was just trying to come to a better understanding of what Karl’s entire trip was all about. In any case I wish him the best of luck in getting his situation in Russia sorted out as quickly as possible.
hope the book is more interesting than this website or there are going to be a lot of dead trees for not
What a fascinating, insightful entry jenny. Perhaps you can share what could make it a more compelling site? Maybe you could give some input that could enrich the conversation. Or are you too bored with yourself to think?
I only know of this journey through Karl’s site and it has me hooked. To each his or her own. I like to read the diary entries and trace the maps, you like to join message boards to say you are bored.
You are all too common and the ultimate bore.
Update News link:
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=7318562
Although the item in Tass gives us some good information I believe their reporter may have mistaken Karl’s words when it came to what he will be doing should the authorities allow him to walk through Russia. Because of rivers and wetlands Karl believes that it will be actually faster to make the journey south-westwards across the Chukot Region in winter despite the extreme cold. This was the reason he crossed Alaska during the winter as he could take a much more direct route. As was pointed out by Jay before, he will have to start where the authorities picked him up, in Uelen. He does not want to cross the Bering Straits again, once is enough for anyone I think. He believes he should return to Alaska and re equip completely, given that a lot of the equipment was discarded on the Bering Straits and also apply for the special permits required. Hopefully, having spoken to the authorities in Russia he should know the exact procedure to take.
In response to Matt’s post:
“I am not trying to say that what Karl is doing is not extremely interesting and difficult. I’m on the site right?
All I am saying is that there are many ways to explore a land, its people, and the culture…or for that matter the world. Does spending countless months walking, from town A to town B with little time for the people there aid in understanding a country’s culture? Maybe”
Sounds like you’re not a backpacker. It’s impossible to walk around the world and never take a break, or get on some kind of motorized transit - travelling by foot where possible is all you can do, and it doesn’t take anything away from the quality of Karl’s journey.
To be scathing: I find your comments to be unexperienced in the matter and irrelevant. If you dont see the point - then just assume you lack the relevant experience to understand it.
I can honestly say the amount of rubbish you people are talking about is astounding!!
I am proud of being from from Karl’s home town, he is walking round the world for god’s sake… And whenever he does need a helping hand he accepts it, then goes back to where he needs to and starts to walk again.
This is one the greateast achievements the human race has ever witnessed and online! and all some people can do is criticise and question motif..
Seriously….. Get a grip and cheer the man on. Not one of us could even get near to a feat like this!!!
Jenny you are just thick!