42 thousand kilometers across Russia with one backpack: a wanderer goes to Tyumen across the whole country

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Traveler Andrey Sharashkin with a backpack has already covered 6, 5 thousand kilometers on foot. Photo by Andrey Sharashkin.

The hero of the publication with one backpack walks across Russia and studies its history

Our call found Andrey Sharashkin when he made a halt near the village of Vodolazovo. Ahead of him is the path to Abatsky, and then the road to Omsk. The man has been traveling in Russia for a year now. This could be considered a common occurrence, if not for his mode of travel. Andrey walks exclusively on foot, carrying a 40-kilogram backpack. So he has already covered more than 6, 5 thousand kilometers. But there is a much longer four-year journey ahead.

EXTRA THOUSAND KILOMETERS - DESERT

The man had been hatching the idea of travel since 2002 - he planned to go around Russia in a circle - from Moscow to the Far East and back, but with the intention of returning home to Tyumen. And this is about 42 thousand kilometers and almost five years on foot. Taking into account the fact that sometimes Andrey deviates from the original route, enters those settlements that were not in the plan, the trip may take longer.

“I won’t be surprised if the trip drags on. For example, I didn't have to go to Dagestan, the North Caucasus was not in my route at all - to get around it all, you have to spend a year, - he shared.

But it so happened that when Andrei was in Stavropol, a friend from Makhachkala wrote to him.

- He says to me: “How so? You go to everyone, but you don’t come to me”. Well, I decided - okay, think about a few hundred kilometers, I'll go. I came to Makhachkala, stayed with him for four days and decided - to be in Dagestan and not get to Derbent, the oldest city in Russia, is a sin. Well, let another 250 kilometers. I went to Derbent, in the end I walked around the entire flat part of Dagestan, - the traveler said.

And after Derbent, you have to go to the Sulak canyon, where you can only get through the mountains. So Andrei Sharashkin accidentally explored Dagestan, having spent a month and a half on the journey and winding an extra thousand kilometers, which was not on the route.

“So I don’t know where I can turn. Now I will go to Altai, and I don’t know how long I will stay there. I just go where it is interesting. They tell me - why didn't you go to Crimea? And why should I go there if I walked it up and down. My wife is from there and my son was born there, my relatives live. There was no reason for me to go. So I don’t go to the settlements where I was,”Andrey noted.

A traveler carries such a minimal set on his stoves. Photo by Andrey Sharashkin

NO NEGATIVE

The journey began from the city of Zhukovsky, which is near Moscow. Although the man's house has been in Tyumen for 20 years, in the Moscow region he lived with his brother for two years, and then decided - enough big cities, it's time to go home. But you still need to make a dream come true - to see Russia. And on June 2 of last year, he began his feat on foot. He walked until December, and spent the winter in Saratov with a friend. In March I moved on.

By the way, Andrey has a lot of friends and acquaintances. In general, the people he meets on his way are more than benevolent.

- There was no negative anywhere. And a lot of people help, almost everywhere. Someone with what - someone with products, someone with a roof over their heads. I do not refuse, because I understand that they do it from the bottom of their hearts. I feel their sincerity, - noted the traveler.

Although on the Internet, and Andrei maintains a blog about wanderings "On foot across Russia" in almost all social networks, there are "trolls" who write anything in the comments.

- People are different and not everyone understands why I need this trip. One even managed to write that I was hiding because I was wanted. I don't even respond to such comments, and in general I prefer not to communicate with negative people, - said Andrey.

Supports the plan of the traveler and his son.

- When I was in Ishim, I saw my son. He lives with me in Tyumen, but he came to me, brought everyone. He’s the same - he’s going to break off somewhere. He also travels in the mountains, mostly. So it's okay to my idea, - the man smiled.

In general, the fighting brotherhood - the Tyumen branch of the Russian Union of Afghan Veterans and the Cossacks - helps Andrey a lot. For example, the former military associates a traveler with Afghans in the places where he travels, and they sincerely support the purposeful wanderer.

While Andrey was in Ishim, his son came to him, brought the equipment. Photo by Andrey Sharashkin

LONELINESS IS NOT SCARY

Most of the time, Andrei is alone with himself. And the frequent question he is asked is whether it’s not lonely or boring on the way.

- No, it's not boring, because there are three of us coming - I, an optimist and a pessimist. They argue among themselves, and I reconcile. The first week of the trip was really boring. Thoughts began to arise - should I give up everything, do I need it, and so on. Then I began to struggle with pessimism, and this is how I still continue my journey. Plus, the Internet helps - I read something, I write something myself, - Andrey Sharashkin admitted.

The man has a tent, a sleeping bag, a rug, a gas burner with a cylinder, warm and light clothes, food in his backpack. It seems to be a little, but the backpack is heavy. Nevertheless, Andrei manages to cover 25-30 kilometers with him in a day. Sometimes it happens more, but it rarely happens - why exhaust yourself, the traveler thinks.

Stops are mainly made near settlements, somewhere near the highway, but not in an open place, but in a forest. There he sets up a camp so that it is not particularly visible from the road, otherwise you never know. As for food, Andrei carries some with him, while well-wishers bring something.

- It happens, and I catch fish, although I am not a fan of fishing. I collect mushrooms, berries, and also herbs. I only drink herbal tea. Last year I collected it myself, but I ran out of herbs, I had to take it from the pharmacy. Now our medications will go, I will make supplies again. And there are even more of them in Altai, - Andrey told about his diet.

Andrey is going through this stage of his journey now. Photo by Andrey Sharashkin

WHERE DO LEGS GROW

Andrey is making such a large-scale, long trip for the first time. But in the old days, he was engaged in hiking when he taught at a cadet school.

- With the cadets we constantly went on hikes for a month or two. And I myself have traveled more than once, the longest route I had was 940 kilometers. So I'm familiar with the tent, - the traveler recalled and added that, despite the experience, he is still learning from others, because people sometimes give very useful advice.

IT'S ALL ABOUT HISTORY

The purpose of travel for a man is noble. A historian by training, in addition, a former military psychologist, he studies the outback of Russia, gets acquainted with the way of life and customs of people in order to write a book later. He already has enough material now, one might even say that part of the book has been written. But, of course, it is far from a tangible result - there are still at least four years ahead.

- I have long wanted to go all over Russia. I go because I study history, and every settlement I find myself in. I see where and how people live, what they do, - the traveler emphasized.

And then there will be a road to Altai. Photo by Andrey Sharashkin

SAVE FOR OTHERS

Andrey captures all his impressions in photo and video format. But before entering this or that village, village or city, he collects bit by bit what is already known about them.

- I visit museums last. First, I collect all the available information about the settlement, then I go sightseeing. And only then to the museum, it complements the knowledge. But I don’t take a guide, I only see what I need,”the historian noted.

It is not always possible to obtain information. For example, in Vodolazovo, people do not know when and how their village appeared.

- Nobody you ask, nobody knows anything, not even the ancient old people. Although the houses are located there in the middle of the 19th century. But I am meticulous, I will still find at least something about her, - Andrey is convinced.

This is what is important for him - to preserve for posterity what may be lost forever.

The complete route that Andrey Sharashkin plans to take is impressive. Nikolay Smotrov's infographics

LIDIA SHUMKOVA