Spring

For the purposes of this page we will refer to spring as March – May, which is generally how people on the Yamal Peninsula use the term. However, for most if not all of this period the tundra will still be covered in snow, so it is the kind of weather that would probably be called “winter” in warmer countries.

Early March: Weather is still quite wintery. Temperatures of -30°C and -35°C are not uncommon. On rare occasions, temperatures as low as -50°C or as high as -5°C may be seen. There are already about 12 hours of daylight. Most nomads are still in their winter pastures in the forest tundra and not migrating. Yar-Sale nomads are camped near the remains of well-preserved gulag camps.

Late March: Weather is getting warmer and more like spring. Snow is getting softer and wetter, forcing many Nenets to swap their traditional fur boots for rubber ones. Temperatures down to -50°C may still be experienced, although this is extremely rare. Temperatures as high as about +2°C may also be experienced, but this is also extremely rare. There are already about 16 hours of daylight. Some nomad camps start migrating north or east through the forest tundra. Some towns and villages have their festivals at this time.

Early April: Weather now getting significantly warmer and snow much wetter. Walking around becomes more difficult. 16 hours of extremely bright sunshine every day. Everyone has sun tans! The occasional blizzard does still occur though, along with temperatures down to a minimum of around -35°C (very unusual) and a maximum of around +5°C.

Many nomads are now migrating north through the forest tundra. Many Yar-Sale nomads do the 24-hour 70km crossing of the Gulf of Ob, a frozen bay of the Arctic Ocean, at this time. Before the crossing they are in the forest tundra of Nadym District. After the crossing they are in the treeless tundra of the Yamal Peninsula. Some towns and villages have their festivals at this time.

For most reindeer herders this is the last time they will have access to villages or shops until November. They thus have to visit the village several times to buy provisions for the next 7 months, which are then loaded onto sledges pulled by the reindeer during migrations.

In the Nenets language, April is called sia nichs – “the month of wrong births”. This is because reindeer start having miscarriages at this time. Herders start doing watch duty – between 1 and 3 people (depending on herd size) must be out with the herd for 24 hours at a time, sleeping outdoors on the snow when they get the chance.

Late April: Almost all nomads are migrating by now. Long hours of bright sunshine at temperatures hovering around 0°C, although still complete snow 

cover. 20 hours of daylight by the end of the month for herders still close to Yar-Sale or Salekhard. For those who have already migrated further north, there will already be “white nights”. This time is called ty sapolana in Nenets – “the appearance of the first calves”.

Early May: Temperatures between -35°C and +10°, both extremes very unusual. All nomads are now migrating. For some this means one migration a week (those visited on our Budget itinerary). For more migratory nomads with longer migration routes (ie. the Yar-Sale Nenets), this means migrating much more often. Most Yar-Sale groups need to cross the Yuribey River before it thaws. This means migrating two to five times a week, covering over 300km between Yar-Sale and the Yuribey, to cross it by the end of May. A few groups do the crossing after it has thawed, with the herders in rowing boats and the reindeer swimming.

In the Nenets language this time is called nichaudy iry – calving time. The majority of the calves are born and herders have to spend days on end out with the reindeer, helping the mothers. Male and female herds are usually kept separately at this time so that the females can migrate at a pace suitable for their calves.

Usually snow is beginning to melt now and there are a few patches of snow-free earth. A reindeer giving birth must always find one of these snow-free patches where its offspring can spend the first few hours of life if it is to have a good chance of survival. We have seen years, however, when there is almost complete snow cover throughout May and into early June. This makes it extremely difficult for the calves to survive. In years like that, the migration almost grinds to a halt and Nenets men have to be out with the reindeer almost 24/7 helping the calves to survive.

By 10th May there is 24-hour daylight even in Salekhard.

Late May: Crossing of the Yuribey into an area of excellent pastures. Many unnecessary items are left behind at a spot in the tundra to be picked up on the southward migration in autumn. These include fur chum covers, the stove, floorboards, the warmest fur clothing and so on. This is done to make things easier on the sledge reindeer in summer. Sometimes grandparents are also left behind on the Yuribey River to spend the summer fishing and be picked up by their family in autumn!

This time of year is called marty iry by the Nenets – “the month of the birds’ nests”. This is the time when geese make their arrival on the Yamal Peninsula and build their nests throughout the tundra. All Nenets men spend as much time as possible hunting. The meat provides some welcome variety to their diet.

 

For the purposes of this page we will refer to spring as March – May, which is generally how people on the Yamal Peninsula use the term. However, for most if not all of this period the tundra will still be covered in snow, so it is the kind of weather that would probably be called “winter” in warmer countries.

Early March: Weather is still quite wintery. Temperatures of -30°C and -35°C are not uncommon. On rare occasions, temperatures as low as -50°C or as high as -5°C may be seen. There are already about 12 hours of daylight. Most nomads are still in their winter pastures in the forest tundra and not migrating. Yar-Sale nomads are camped near the remains of well-preserved gulag camps.

Late March: Weather is getting warmer and more like spring. Snow is getting softer and wetter, forcing many Nenets to swap their traditional fur boots for rubber ones. Temperatures down to -50°C may still be experienced, although this is extremely rare. Temperatures as high as about +2°C may also be experienced, but this is also extremely rare. There are already about 16 hours of daylight. Some nomad camps start migrating north or east through the forest tundra. Some towns and villages have their festivals at this time.

Early April: Weather now getting significantly warmer and snow much wetter. Walking around becomes more difficult. 16 hours of extremely bright sunshine every day. Everyone has sun tans! The occasional blizzard does still occur though, along with temperatures down to a minimum of around -35°C (very unusual) and a maximum of around +5°C. Many nomads are now migrating north through the forest tundra. Many Yar-Sale nomads do the 24-hour 70km crossing of the Gulf of Ob, a frozen bay of the Arctic Ocean, at this time. Before the crossing they are in the forest tundra of Nadym District. After the crossing they are in the treeless tundra of the Yamal Peninsula. Some towns and villages have their festivals at this time. For most reindeer herders this is the last time they will have access to villages or shops until November. They thus have to visit the village several times to buy provisions for the next 7 months, which are then loaded onto sledges pulled by the reindeer during migrations. In the Nenets language, April is called sia nichs – “the month of wrong births”. This is because reindeer start having miscarriages at this time. Herders start doing watch duty – between 1 and 3 people (depending on herd size) must be out with the herd for 24 hours at a time, sleeping outdoors on the snow when they get the chance.

Late April: Almost all nomads are migrating by now. Long hours of bright sunshine at temperatures hovering around 0°C, although still complete snow cover. 20 hours of daylight by the end of the month for herders still close to Yar-Sale or Salekhard. For those who have already migrated further north, there will already be “white nights”. This time is called ty sapolana in Nenets – “the appearance of the first calves”.

Early May: Temperatures between -35°C and +10°, both extremes very unusual. All nomads are now migrating. For some this means one migration a week (those visited on our Budget itinerary). For more migratory nomads with longer migration routes (ie. the Yar-Sale Nenets), this means migrating much more often. Most Yar-Sale groups need to cross the Yuribey River before it thaws. This means migrating two to five times a week, covering over 300km between Yar-Sale and the Yuribey, to cross it by the end of May. A few groups do the crossing after it has thawed, with the herders in rowing boats and the reindeer swimming.

In the Nenets language this time is called nichaudy iry – calving time. The majority of the calves are born and herders have to spend days on end out with the reindeer, helping the mothers. Male and female herds are usually kept separately at this time so that the females can migrate at a pace suitable for their calves.

Snow is melting now and there are many patches of snow-free earth. A reindeer giving birth must always find one of these snow-free patches where its offspring can spend the first few hours of life if it is to have a good chance of survival. We have seen years, however, when there is almost complete snow cover throughout May and into early June. This makes it extremely difficult for the calves to survive. In years like that, the migration almost grinds to a halt and Nenets men have to be out with the reindeer almost 24/7 helping the calves to survive.

By 10th May there is 24-hour daylight even in Salekhard.

Late May: Crossing of the Yuribey into an area of excellent pastures. Many unnecessary items are left behind at a spot in the tundra to be picked up on the southward migration in autumn. These include fur chum covers, the stove, floorboards, the warmest fur clothing and so on. This is done to make things easier on the sledge reindeer in summer. Sometimes grandparents are also left behind on the Yuribey River to spend the summer fishing and be picked up by their family in autumn!

This time of year is called marty iry by the Nenets – “the month of the birds’ nests”. This is the time when geese make their arrival on the Yamal Peninsula and build their nests throughout the tundra. All Nenets men spend as much time as possible hunting. The meat provides some welcome variety to their diet.

 

Yamal Peninsula Spring Tours