Representatives of the Derzhavin University Tourist Club – Ishak Almazbekov, Sofia Baranova, Tatyana Denisova, and Inna Polyakova – returned from the All-Russian Student Tourist Rally "More Than a Journey" in Smolensk.
On the day of arrival, all participants were divided into teams: six groups of experienced hikers and ten teams of novices. First, they had to head to Dead Lake, where an orienteering course and stations awaited along the way. They had to quickly build a fire, tie knots, and establish radio communication. They also practiced first aid skills. Lunch in the forest turned into a useful master class in camp cooking, and in the evening, they met with Russian mountaineering champion Sergei Kofanov.
– The next day was devoted entirely to training. "First, there was a lecture from the Student Tourism program, followed by a practical session from the Youth Active Tourism Development Association, where the groups developed their own tourism projects for their universities. After that, a series of intensive workshops began," said Iskhak Almazbekov. "We learned how to organize water rescue operations, how to operate a SUP and a kayak, mastered the use of a canopy and parallel crossing, and a horizontal pendulum. We also practiced installing handrails, descending and ascending steep slopes using a figure-eight and jumar, and perfected knot tying. That afternoon, the teams went on an excursion to Stargrad and concluded the day with a creative workshop called "Field Editorial" on content creation.
The final day proved to be the most exciting and dynamic. The organizers held the "All-Russian Hiking Games" – a true adventure race with 42 stages. All 16 teams spent six hours meandering through the forest, completing time trials. Sofia and Inna's team took second place among experienced hikers.
"A huge thank you to the organizers for this large-scale and incredibly warm gathering! We returned with a wealth of knowledge, new connections, and plans for the future," says Sofia Baranova. "The gathering gave each participant a sense of shared purpose and a sincere desire to develop tourism in their regions."
