After 8000km – finally back in Yakutsk!

After Oymyakon, we decided we needed to check out the local disused airport – in the village called… Airport (in Russian – Aeroport)! ->

In WWII it was used as a back-up airport for ALSIB Lend-Lease aircraft. After the war it became a civilian airport, and now – as you can see – it’s well and truly abandoned:

However, there is some new aviation activity going on here: there are fresh comms poles, fences, some planes and a helicopter…

Heading out of Tomtor heading west, we drive to the top of the hill with a great view of the Oymyakon Depression – the lowland that’s one of the main reasons why Oymyakon is one of the coldest places on the planet ->

But it’s not quite as good a view as when it’s -50°C or below (in January-February). Here’s a photo from February 2022:

Onward – eastward – still on the Old Kolyma Tract (the part that’s still in use). Alas, the views – just like up on the hill – nothing like the Jan-Feb ones ->

Ah, the 101km distance marker (101km from the junction with the new Kolyma Highway) ->

We stop at it each time we pass it ->

2021:

2022:

This year – halo! ->

Onward ->

The above pic – from the past; the three below – from this year (everything grayer/browner):

Loaded trucks are advised to take a detour ->

The Naleds of March! ->

Old bridge:

New bridge:

We take a left onto the Kolyma Highway ->

Back in Oymyakon/Tomtor, we’d heard on the news that Kolyma was blocked with snow up ahead – around where we’d just reached; again we were real lucky: already cleared! ->

While the evening before – it was like this:

Hills: tricky for some ->

That evening we reached Khandyga and spent the night there.

Next morning, we crossed the frozen Aldan river – here – where another bridge is planned so as to make Kolyma a year-round road.

Suddenly – our first incident of the whole expedition: a flat tire…

Still, after 8000km we’d done well ).

Nearing Yakutsk – asphalt:

Evergreen pine trees:

…All signs our expedition was nearly over – and we were already getting nostalgic…

Next – Nizhny Bestyakh:

And across the frozen river to Yakutsk:

Arrived! Expedition over! Boo!

We’ve done it! ->

Yakutsk-Tiksi-Yakutsk expedition 2024: over and out!

Journey stats:

Route:

// Actually, it’s not over yet )…

The rest of the photos from the expedition are here.