Group Rides Jet Skis to Russia, but Takes an Unexpected Turn

The group of adventurers crossed the Bering Strait twice in one week

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By Kirsten Swann

Story Created: Jul 12, 2012 at 7:53 PM AKDT

Story Updated: Jul 13, 2012 at 7:41 AM AKDT

NOME – A week after setting out across the Bering Strait with a SeaDoo and five crewmembers, Steven Moll said he learned an important lesson.

“Expect the unexpected,” he said Thursday via Skype. “No matter how planned you are, there’s always a surprise waiting for you on the other end.”

It’s something Moll and his teammates, traveling around the globe for the new reality television show Dangerous Waters, experienced firsthand. The group had planned on crossing the Bering Strait from Alaska, traveling south along the Russian Coast and eventually making their way to Taiwan.

The visas were on hand and the arrangements were in place, but when the team happened upon a remote Russian military base near the town of Lavrentiya, Moll said nothing could have prepared him for what happened next.

“As soon as we got close to shore, a tank pop ups with six to eight Russian military personnel with AK-47s,” he said. “They immediately took us into custody.”

The crew spent the next four days detained in the Russian town. While at first they were kept under the watch of an armed guard while local officials worked to sort out visa confusion, after several days Moll said the group was treated to tours of the town and told everything was moving towards resolution.

Ultimately, though, they were turned back the way they came, their second trip across the frigid strait in only a week. Moll, back on U.S. soil, said the reality show will eventually take him back to Russia. First, they’ll travel around Alaska, through the Northwestern Passage and on to Iceland.

“We definitely won’t be going on to any military installations,” Moll said.
 

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Nate said on Sunday, Jul 15 at 12:23 PM

These Areas for years require special permissions in addition to a Visa which could be obtained, but like a year later.. If they propose to build a tunnel under the Bering Strait... Will the Rusians be allowed to use it "No Problemo", but we not allowed to just get a Visa? Same area... And what would really suck is if we pay half or even a third for a tunnel, and be treated like this. I hope they learn what else is involved in needed paperwork and try this trip again. :)

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