How I hitchhiked to the Russian North on my own

"I went to St. Petersburg from Moscow, then to Vyborg, Republic of Karelia, Murmansk, and the Solovetsky Islands, before going by boat to Archangelsk and back to Moscow.” Russian photographer Katerina Mamontova shares her impressions.

“I hitchhiked and couch-surfed all over the place, and stayed with random companions."

"It was a unique experience to explore human kindness and mutual help on such a scale. I encountered things that tourists don’t normally notice in their vanity."

"While packing for the road trip, I let go of my conventional view of life, my habits, and desire to control everything. I let life go its own way."

"I didn’t plan to make a photo series. I only used my instinct and took photos of my environment."

"During the trip, I discovered snow in summer and a northern desert, and looked at how nature has conquered manmade things."

"Rough, but sincere kindness, hospitality, a slower pace of life and work, thoroughness, and at the same time apathy in the face of economic problems."

"Alexander was transporting a barrel and documents to Teriberka. I was sodden and cold and he found me on the road, gave me a warm sweater, fed me in an eatery, and gave me some frozen fish from a nearby plant."

"One of the great companions I met, Alexander, who gave me a ride to Teriberka, a small northern settlement made famous by the Oscar-nominated movie Leviathan."

"People able to cope with the harsh wind, cold sea, and northern winter do not know how to cope with the closure of factories that are the lifeblood of their towns."

"They sheltered me, fed me, and let me join their excursion around the monastery. Almost everywhere I found the same kindness – be it musicians from Archangelsk or drivers from Monchegorsk. Every time we found common topics to discuss or a reason to stay silent together."