Following a recent tragedy on the Vilyuchinsky volcano that claimed the lives of two climbers, Kamchatka Governor Vladimir Solodov has put forward a legislative initiative. The proposed law would mandate tour organizers to cover the costs of rescue operations if their tours were conducted in violation of safety regulations. Solodov emphasized that the deceased group was not registered with the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES) and disregarded warnings about the route`s closure and unfavorable climbing conditions. He noted that such incidents are not uncommon in the region and has instructed officials to swiftly prepare the bill for submission to the State Duma.
The rescue operation involved 40 personnel. A representative from a Kamchatka tour company specializing in extreme expeditions, who requested anonymity, voiced concerns regarding the potential repercussions of the new legislation. He believes that many amateur tourists, often lacking the necessary experience and equipment, underestimate the inherent dangers of the volcanic terrain and the unpredictable weather conditions on Kamchatka. According to him, climbers frequently neglect to bring essential gear like insurance and ice axes and fail to understand when and where it is safe to undertake expeditions.
“Everyone has become complacent on the routes: they go to some easy mountains once, without any categorization or proper gear – just trekking poles, nothing more. No insurance, no ice axes – nothing, and they consciously embark on routes. Firstly, people absolutely do not understand which volcano, when, what the steepness is, or in which month to go. Everyone knows perfectly well that it`s not safe to go at this time; this route becomes more professional due to ice and low temperatures complicating the ascent. If they introduce some sort of fine, or rather, make us pay rescuers, I think many will simply stop registering altogether. At best, 10% of those with satellite phones will call. If it`s a guide-excursionist, a guide-conductor, specifically a mountain guide-conductor, you are obliged to pass certification. But nowhere is it stated that you are not allowed to go on a route if you don`t have a satellite phone. It`s always just a recommendation. Although this is absolutely incorrect – there isn`t cell service everywhere. The same Mount Elbrus – you don`t get reception everywhere.”
Question: Do such extreme ascents generally need to be registered somewhere?
“In the summer, if the height is one and a half kilometers and the slope`s steepness is practically absent, I believe that if no category is assigned, you might not need to register. However, if you`re even heading to Gorely in autumn, and the top has frozen slightly – that needs to be registered, not to mention Avachinsky volcano.”
Question: You`re appealing to common sense, but is it explicitly written somewhere that one must register an ascent, for example, on Vilyuchinsky volcano?
“Of course. You open the `Volcanoes of Kamchatka` park website; it includes Mutnovsky, Gorely, the Small Valley of Geysers, hot springs, and Vilyuchinsky. Everything is described there for each route. When we go on an ascent, let`s say Vilyuchinsky volcano is within the park territory. Accordingly, we submit an application, the route is described: what we choose, requirements are met, migration fees are paid – that`s it, we have a pass to this park. For example, we`ve registered with the park. They aren`t obliged to send information anywhere – to rescuers or elsewhere. We do it ourselves: the group leader provides the information, and the MES receives notification that such-and-such a group is registering at a certain time and is expected to reach the summit via this route at a certain time. After they have completed the climb and returned successfully, they are removed from the record. If you don`t deregister, you get a huge fine for violating the rules by returning and not deregistering. The first time is a warning, the second is a monetary fine.”
Question: Who imposes the fine – the park or regional authorities?
“No, naturally, it`s the rescuers. The park doesn`t care at all: you`ve registered, and that`s it.”
Question: What if someone didn`t register at all?
“An inspector will be on duty, stop you, and if you don`t have permission – a QR code on your phone, let`s say, or a permit number – you contacted them by radio or satellite. The inspector has up-to-date information on who should be on the route in the last few hours. As a rule, inspectors are present on the most popular routes, of course. Therefore, specifically for ascents, I would make a satellite phone mandatory, along with mandatory registration. Plus, the most important point is information: if it`s a commercial tour, you can`t force an amateur into this system. He wanted to go – it`s his life. They gathered, say, two or three friends, and went. One of them might have climbed Elbrus once. But we have different climatic features and overall mountain relief – ours is volcanic. You can`t forget the temperature regime, because God forbid you twisted an ankle – you`d have to stay on the route urgently. Especially in winter – temperatures are low, minus 40, minus 50 can occur, and, accordingly, the chances of rescue are reduced not to hours, but to minutes. You need to act quickly, because freezing to death is a matter of five minutes.”
According to TASS reports from regional emergency services, Viktor Vavilenok, one of the climbers who died on Vilyuchinsky volcano, was a well-known guide in the region and a member of the Russian Mountaineering Federation.
Rupert Blackwood 
Clement Ashworth