title: Bering Bridge: The Soviet-American Expedition from Siberia to Alaska
author:  Paul Schurke 
description: YA --Written in an informal style, this Arctic trek reads like a novel, and even includes a bit of complicated international romance. Schurke recounts the experiences of the Bering Bridge expedition during March-May, 1989. Through his persistence as co-leader, 12 Soviet and American adventurers, including three Eskimos and three Chukchis, visited a string of remote Siberian villages, crossed the International Date Line, and continued the journey to native towns in Alaska. The group encountered red tape (the Bering Strait had been closed to travel in either direction since 1948), fierce weather, and team rivalries, but Schurke never gave up his dream uniting the people of two continents. The expedition received warm welcomes on both sides of the Strait, united native team members with distant relatives, and helped East-West relations. In April 1989, the governors of Siberia and Alaska signed a protocol requesting their governments to open the border to travel by native peoples. In September 1989 this became a reality. A story of high adventure by dogsled, skis, and skin boat. --Mary Gerrity, Queen Anne School, Upper Marlboro, MD<br />Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.
zlib_text: ![](images/00001.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
    
  The History of the American Expedition
  
  
    
  
  
    
  [To Our Comrades and Friends.  
  
  
    
  [INTRODUCTION.  
  
  
    
  [I. U. S. A. MEDICAL UNITS ON THE ARCTIC OCEAN  
  
  
    
  [II. FALL OFFENSIVE ON THE RAILROAD  
  
  
    
  [III. RIVER PUSH FOR KOTLAS  
  
  
    
  [IV. DOUGHBOYS ON GUARD IN ARCHANGEL  
  
  
    
  [V. WHY AMERICAN TROOPS WERE SENT TO RUSSIA  
  
  
    
  [VI. ON THE FAMOUS KODISH FRONT IN THE FALL  
  
  
    
  [VII. PENETRATING TO UST PADENGA  
  
  
    
  [VIII. PEASANTRY OF THE ARCHANGEL PROVINCE  
  
  
    
  [IX. “H” COMPANY PUSHES UP THE ONEGA VALLEY  
  
  
    
  [X. “G” COMPANY FAR UP THE PINEGA RIVER  
  
  
    
  [XI. WITH WOUNDED AND SICK  
  
  
    
  [XII. Armistice Day With Americans In North Russia  
  
  
    
  [XIII. WINTER DEFENSE OF TOULGAS  
  
  
    
  [XIV. GREAT WHITE REACHES  
  
  
    
  [XV. MOURNFUL KODISH  
  
  
    
  [XVI. UST PADENGA  
  
  
    
  [XVII. THE RETREAT FROM SHENKURSK  
  
  
    
  [XVIII. DEFENSE OF PINEGA  
  
  
    
  [XIX. THE LAND AND THE PEOPLE  
  
  
    
  [XX. HOLDING THE ONEGA VALLEY  
  
  
    
  [XXI. ICE-BOUND ARCHANGEL