~ Trekking in Russia ~
The Old Church

Day7: My last day on pahod out in the Ural mountains, we decided to go and visit and old church about 5 kilomotres away in a remote farming village. Also we planned to visit some more caves on the way back.

Thus we gathered around our campfire for an early breakfast of my "favourite" brown-grain porridge with the obligatory tinned meat and a dash of ketchup for flavour. Isn't it amazing what a person will eat when they're hungry! Despite the somewhat limited culinary range in camp, I must admit that I've never felt healthier than after one of the ten day russian treks.

Well, despite our early breakfast we didn't actually set off until lunchtime...

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I included this photo because it shows a strange incongruity of the region (ooh big words!) Here is a remote wilderness where is trekkers camping, domestic cows grazing, and a ruined factory that gives evidence of an earlier industrial age here.

Shortly after this photo was taken, the farmers nearby decided to set fire to most of the prairie in order to hurry the growth of new grass. The brush fire that ensued was quite incredible.

 

A photo from the gorge which we followed on our way to the church. There were very few farm tracks and no footpaths so one really had a feeling of being out in complete wilderness.

The weather today was unbelievably hot (about +19C) and we walked most of the journey in T-shirts. The snow has still not melted in many parts of the forest and the streams have small icebergs rimming the banks.


Another clear mountain stream tumbles down a ravine towards the river below. Pasha took this photo of Lucia and me posing for the camera.

Unfortunately the battery in my camera died the previous day but anyway we have some great pictures from the Canon including pictures of the church we visited.

This really was such an awesome trip, you guys out there seriously missed out!

         


            

          

        

        
As 
          we approached the farming community we could see a lot of smoke and 
          hear the loud crackling of fire. When we arrived at the edge of the 
          forest we were greeted by this view of blackened desolation. 

        
The 
          farmers in this area definitely seem to be a bit heavy-handed about 
          burning off the dry prairie grass. Some parts of the forest were still 
          on fire and many trees had burned down. 

        
 
          

            
Fortunately 
              the blackened part was only on this side of the church and the area 
              around was as beautiful as ever. 

            
The 
              church was one of thousands that were destroyed by the communists 
              nearly fifty years ago. It was definitely a pity because the church 
              must have been very impressive then, although now it was just an 
              empty structure.

            
However 
              the walls inside still clearly showed many of the profound and intricate 
              paintings that cover the walls of every orthodox church, sometimes 
              a single painting covers an entire wall and depicts scenes of saints 
              and angels from the bible.