The apartment building in Yuzhno Sakhalinsk, Sakhalin Island that we stayed in prior to sailing to the Kuril Islands.

The GPS says there is an island out there somewhere...

Workign at the Ainu Creek site, Urup Island. Our ship "Iskatel" waiting off shore in the background.

Unloading gear from the Zodiac at the Vodapodnaya site on Simushir Island.

The base camp below the Vodapodnaya site, Simushir Island.

Excavating the Vodapodnaya site, Simushir Island.

Crowded excavation unit at the Vodapodnaya site.  Roughly 12 cubic meters of material excavated in 9 days.

Wet screening in the rain at the Vodapodnaya site.

Ducking into a gully to take a break from the rain and 30mph winds -- another picture perfect day in the Kuril Islands.

Warming our heels after another wet day at Vodapodnaya (which means "waterfall" in Russian).

Cataloging artifacts in the lab tent at Vodapodnaya.

Simushir Island -- of course, this is the day we are leaving the Vodapodnaya site.

Outhouse with a view.  Drobnyye site camp, Shiashkotan Island.

Russian field refridgerator.  Drobnyye camp site, Shiashkotan Island.

Rip a hole in my rainpants Mr. Fox and you will make a nice fur shawl.

Ekarma Island, seen from the Drobnyye site on Shiashkotan Island.

Sperm whale vertebrae on the beach, Shiashkotan Island.  Glass fishing float in front of bones is about the size of a softball.

Bay inside volcanic caldera, Yankicha Island.

Note Zodiac boat on shore for scale.

Standing on the caldera rim, Yankicha Island.  One of the most amazing places on earth.