Description of the Tropa Simeona
divided in parts-pro-toto
Remarks beforehand
A. The other addition to the mail has a map of the old Pathway.
B. In Holland we have a sponsor to realize horse & wagon transport along the Tropa Simeona. We consider this, from the past, the normal and possible transport
C. Our division on the map may be somewhat less than per kilometre
D. In the description ‘Directory´ = what has been prepared on work to do. This preparation has primarily come from Larenstein-students (from the famous school in Velp, Holland) who in 2005 visited this part of Siberia. They brought their opinions in a broad report, written in Dutch, in our possession in Haarlem, Holland.
1. km -3 till -1: asphalt, clay: road in Makhnjewo-nord. In the end the stores of Ljeschos, in fact along exact the old Pilgerway. Directory: plant trees from Tropa km 30 in a prepared line right side around fence of Ljeschos or remove Ljeschos from the historical pathway! (This firma exists in Verkhnye Sinyatchiekha, 80 km more south.)
2. km -1 till 0: black earth: narrow old pathway 3 à 4 m queer, crosses way of Ljeschos, at the end ‘blockade’ out of sovjet time. In 2005 a branches-blockade at the very start has been moved away and the beginning is opened by help children House Khabartchikha. Directory: a. keep this old way for pedestrians and open at the end the old historical pathway or b. egalize the deeply damaged surface and restore the original beginning and end of Tropa Simeona and/or c: make parallel at right side: clay, open space to make the modern beginning of the pilgerway (is opinion Kislich, surely not shared by us)
3. km 0 till 14: clay: pathway 5 m queer -1. Directory: equalize tracks to convex pathway
4. km 14 till 20: reed-grass: pathway 8 m queer floating on water in fibre of reed-grass. At km 16 crossing with first railway track, where till 2007 has been permanent stagnating water. The fibre-surface has been damaged by winter transports and fallen trees. Directory: restore grow reed-grass where is water.
5. km 20 till 25: clay: pathway 5m queer -2, the surface little damaged; three times in water. First the crossing of the young sjaitan brook, then two times beavers in the sjaitan brook, that make the road over flown. At 23 crossing Electra line. Directory: move away branches, built three floating bridges out of berk poles and nylon wire.
At 25 stands the sponsored, builded and damaged house to overcome the night for pilgrims. Directory: repair roof; make shelter for wood for burning; grub well; make round fireplace; make crossable a wet way through a side-brook nearby.
6. km 25 till 30: clay: pathway 5 m queer -3, the surface little damaged. At 27 split, we go straight on, on right parallel. At 28 straight on, at 30 straight on! Directory: move away branches and trees
7. km 30 till 31: black earth: to be made short cut 3m queer through the open wood, crossing a side-brook, leading to the left on existing pathway to left parallel. Directory: make a track about 600 m. At 31 crossing with second railway track
8. km 31 till 35: clay: pathway 5 m queer -4. Left parallel, till 33 used by big machines of wood workers, Directory: unknown; after that, path seems over 500 meter to be blocked by stems of trees what avoids machines, Directory: unknown;
At ± 34 Holy Well Saint Simeon, Directory: to restore with some stones and a cross; also the way for the horse and wagon around it.
9. km 35 till ± 42: clay: pathway 4 km covered by cutted wood and branches. The wood is cut at left side. Further 5 m queer -5. A water crossing. At 40 crossing with grass way of third railway track. Directory: clean up 4 km, clear crossing grass way
10. km ± 42 till 47: clay: pathway 5 m queer with much water on surface. Directory: equalize till convex surface with restoration of many flow-offs that lead deep into the forest.
11. km 47 till 48: clay: pathway goes left out of the wood, damaged by tractors. Sight seeing Merkushina. Directory: equalize damaged surface to convex; built tower 5 m; fell trees that make the sight difficult, also far away.
12. km 48 till 50: clay: After crossing the asphalt straight on, down where wood must be passed to the bridge to Merkushina. Directory: make bridge 6 m long; make a new pathway trough the wood.
Remarks afterwards
A. The mentioned railway tracks have no rails. Number one is a dike 60 cm high, 1,50 m broad; the second is a dike 40 cm high 3 m broad. The third is 0 high, 10 m broad.
B. The in old Russia realized and maintained pathway had a profile of a grub in length at two sides of the main surface. Between the grub walls the profile of the surface was convex. Water flew into these grubs and from there into water stores or water flow-offs.
C. The numbers 5 and 6 have a surface of the way less damaged than other parts. After the ballota part little cars moved. That does not mean no damage; by example at the house location is to find the grub of a track about one meter below the normal level; consider what huge machines might sometimes come….
D. In the numbers 3, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 has the before man-kept pathway been damaged by heavy transports alongside in sovjet- and modern times. Two or more new length-grubs changed the profile of the road from convex to concave. By this reason the man-dug flow-offs for the water are mostly stagnated. So the water stands all summer in this grubs… The restoration of this flow-offs for water is necessary, after the profile of the road also has been repaired, convex again.
E. In the middle of the pathway is the border of Verkhotursky Rayon and (modern) Makhnjovsky Rayon. That means the damage of the road in the number 3 is from the south, namely Maknjewo; the much more serious damage in the numbers 8, 9, 10 and 11 is from the north, namely probably Tayezniji. As far as I know this village only has a huge Wood work firma; the Pilorama at Kordukowo is relatively small.
F. The mentioned ‘directories’ are never profusely, while always is to find more work in taking off on the Path fallen branches or trees out of the surrounding woods. Also sometimes young trees have to be felled, while standing on the surface of the pathway and disturbing the site of the prolonging of the way. Also water flow-offs may need work, while often filled by fallen wood.
So, most out of my best experiences,
Ioannes A.K. de Groot, 19/20 april 2009
» Further remarks on Restoration Path Holy Simeon Verkhotursky