By 18.00 local time we arrive in Dixon. Clearly, -17C. Today is a day off, and frolicking children meets us on the road. Local children are modest, they are difficult to make contact, but the “Northern Troopers” team is received with sincere joy. There is no high-speed mobile Internet, a cinema, buses, cafes and there is no person who has never seen a polar bear, northern lights shimmering and the blooming spring of the tundra. We are met by Larisa I. Vakhrusheva, director of the Dixon Secondary School. A week ago we had a meeting with the schoolchildren, they were all in the village of 44. After watching the film “Taimyr 2013” (see here the films “The Northern Troopers”), we talked about choosing a profession, serving in the army, men’s deeds, presented souvenirs.
A special impression on the guys was made by the team member Ilgizar Biktashev. Since 2009, at the very beginning of the expedition project, he is studying the Arctic with the Northern Landing Force. He does not have one foot – he lost it in the first Chechen war. Prosthesis and crutches, too, no. Prosthesis for medical reasons, crutches – in principle, Ilgizyar has learned to live on one leg the way some do not know how and on two, and in extreme conditions of the Arctic expedition often remains the most cheerful and purposeful participant who also encourages others. The question “how was decided on such a campaign” to him is not applicable: the commander called, he went. The leader of the Northern Assault, Alexander Peterman, in his turn, had no doubts about Ilgizyar: that he could not cope, he never even thought – the strong will and iron character of his comrade are too obvious. And then, when a number of people on one leg unswervingly overcome a kilometer per kilometer in the harsh Arctic, the rest have no excuses for whining.
Ilgizyar showed his students physical training, showing several exercises that perform daily to maintain physical fitness. Severe, strong men, managed to interest children, take hold of their attention and arrange for a confidential conversation. According to the headmaster, in the evening, after meeting with the team, in all Dixon houses the conversations were only about the “Northern Desant” and about the strong people. And this is despite the fact that a large number of expeditions pass through the village.
Later we walked around the village and visited the local museum. Tomorrow we will check the equipment and on the way, to Sopkarga, to Gydu, to Tazovsky. Home!
