Jumping around lake Baïkal

Arriving at 6 am in Irkutsk, we started the day with a good old breakfast of coffee, sausages, schnitzel, and mashed potatoes. We then headed to the Baïkaler Hostel, with just enough time to take a shower before going on the Baikal trek. The shower was cold, but after four days on a train (hence without showering), it sounded like paradise!

At 9 am, we met Jack "Yevgeny", the owner of the hostel and also our guide around Lake Baikal for the next three days. This is also where we met what would become our travel buddies for the rest of the trip and also some great friends — the Kiwis, Hannah and Troy, from beautiful New Zealand! After three hours of driving, we arrived at Saint Christovky Bay, a place lost on the shores of Baikal. There, you'll find a farm and guesthouse where you'll eat the best homemade food ever!! It was so delicious!

Lake Baikal is gorgeous: huge (600 km long), deep blue water, deep (1600+ m at the deepest)... and so quiet! That's a perfect occasion to concentrate for your jump.

Note that Yevgeny, in the middle, is a fellow jumper. His hostel is full of jumping travelers pictured on the wall. So cool! If you ever go to Irkutsk, go book the Baïkaler Hostel!

The Baikal shore is also very steep, and it requires quite some effort to go up and down all the hills all day. The reward is indeed the wonderful views that you get once on top!

Yet another self-jumping picture.

And here is how we do it :-)