31-01-2006 The book and films ARKTIKA

The book and films Arktika are issued.

10-08-2004 Europe1

Gilles is on the air, with Europe1 Radio

21-04-2004 Lauvrentia, The Bering Sea

Uelen demoralizes me. The loner that I am has more and more difficulty finding a satisfying relationship with other people. Before leaving, I visited the town's splendid museum filled with morse ivory sculptures. The museum attendant was pleased that we met. She was fascinated by the articles on my expedition that appear in the popular Russian magazine Vokrug Sveta. "Finally, a real traveler!" she says. "We see so many people come here, you know, just long enough to unload their skis or their dogs from the helicopter, take a few pictures, and suddenly they're gone to make big noise in the capital..." I would have liked to take part in the fall hunting parties in Uelen, to catch whales and morse. I admire this population for the courage they've had to relearn traditional gestures of previous eras, the only means of survival in this harsh Great North.

13-04-2004 Victory

I left the isba Tchegitoun, but not before saying a little prayer so the the spirits finally give me a favorable passage until Intchoun. After having gone 2km on the ice fields, I am convinced that we will have to go back to the mountain road. The dogs seem relieved, especially Pushok who imagines that this hardened snow along the coast will last. Unfortunately this is not so and after moving into the mountains we are back in deep snow as far as the pass that we reach without any problems. It is hard going on the other slope, but we keep moving and the weather has not yet deteriorated. Along the river, pools of melted ice have been created by the youjak, and we have to be very careful to avoid them. The wind of Tchoukotka always seems to be ready to reach gust strength and I don't trust it. We therefore turn into a beautiful valley to set up camp in a sheltered area. There are only 40km left before reaching Intchoun. Forty little kilometers that I would prefer to walk in clement weather... But mother nature is not in the same frame of mind and she gives us weather that is, shall we say, very unstable the next day... As I get out of the tent and am about to close the last bag, the wind slaps me hard . I don't feel up to fighting against the storm. I still haven't regained my strength and so I am curled back up in my tent when the dogs warn me of an impudent visitor. If I go by the barking of the dogs, he must be near the sleigh. I get out immediately with my unloaded gun and notice a polar fox running away on the snowy slope.

13-04-2004 Doubts

The weather isn’t on our side as I prepare to leave the pleasant village of Enurmino. My friend Elya tries to reassure me with news that the barometer is rising, but I know that a high pressure combined with warmer temperatures often means bad weather. People around me are worried. The passage to Intchoun, 150km away, is difficult. The ice fields are unpredictable, and the passage through the mountains, steep. My huge sleigh with its heavy load contrasts with the Tchouktch sleighs. While they can’t quite imagine the difficulties involved in driving such a thing, they realize that it is quite different from their mode of transport based on rapidity. In addition to the Eukanuba dog biscuits, I am carrrying two seals and the tongue of a whale, generous gifts from the people.

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