We covered about thirty kilometers towards the Sobopol River, but the water seeped into the ground at our feet. Our plan to kayak across this river to the Lena failed.

Now we first have to go back to the nomads in order to find a way to return or an alternative with the help of these people.

We return in stages. We have to carry our luggage in several packages for a few kilometers, then return and get the rest. It’s no longer worth towing as entire veins of the river have dried up behind us.

A curious chipmunk accompanies us at times. Otherwise we don’t see much of the wildlife. No wonder, Constantine and the nomads shoot every wild animal they see.

We don’t see any bears either. We assume that evolution has ensured that the resident bears have so far survived the Yakuts’ hunting zeal and have learned to give people a wide berth.

Our migration is a race for drinking water and firewood. At least we have vodka. The dried up streams are hardly recognizable.

We reach Konstantin via the satellite phone and find out that the nomads are heading in our direction. We ask for help to get to Batagay-Alyta. Unfortunately, Konstantin doesn’t offer us a friendship price, but demands an even higher price than before.

Our drone is also causing us problems. The controls are not working properly. The system reports magnetic interference.

We suspect the high iron content of the reddish mountains is responsible for this.

It later turns out that it is probably due to the northern location and the different magnetic declination.

We only have a short stretch ahead of us through the riverbed to the source. This time we have to carry our luggage over the pass ourselves. It’s very tiring, but we can do it.

Exhausted, we reach the camp of the Evens, who, as announced, have marched towards us. And we hold our breath: the nomads’ reindeer herd is grazing in front of us!