When David and Jakob returned, they appeared to be really rested. Delighted, they told how the valley is slowly being taken over by the spring. The bad weather and their descriptions of the Russian sauna and the wonderful food prepared by cook Larissa accelerated our decision to return. There was no point in waiting for conditions to improve. On the last melting sheets of snow, we skied down almost to the houses of the Aktru camp – just like in our Alps in spring!