In early July the four member Vada team dipped their paddles into the crystal waters of Mongolia’s Lake Khovsgol; signifying the start of a 4 month endeavor through the Mongolian steppe and the Russian Taiga forest.

The team, composed of four friends; Ulysse Bergeron and Elsa Fortin-Pomerleau from Quebec, and siblings Sarah and Eric McNair-Landry from Nunavut, departed from northern Khovsgol in early July. After a week of paddling the glassy lake they departed down its sole outflow; the Eg River. This river, in full flood raced through the Altai foot hills, a spectacular yet sparsely inhabited area. After ten days of travel the Eg contributed to the Selenge River; a wide, slow river that became the team’s highway across the boarder into Russia.

The Siberian weather welcomed the team into Russia with cold rains and chilling winds. The river continually widened until it terminated in a massive delta. Beyond stretched the world’s deepest lake: Baikal. The expedition contoured the southern coastline of this inland ocean, ending in the city of Irkutsk.

The team has brought back thousands of pictures, and hours of footage. They intend on using this media along with written stories to share their insight on the two countries they visited.

“Coming from an expedition back ground, we often set off to travel the most desolate places of the world, to be the first, the fastest, etc. However this trip we planned allocated time for social encounters, days to spend with families, to film, and take pictures and simply enjoy our surroundings.”