It all started with an offhand remark during lunch."I’m going to Baikal," a senior colleague said, almost casually.That one line, dropped amidst a jumble of other conversations, startled me."Baikal?

Lake Baikal, the world's deepest, offers astounding views along its shoreline - and winter tours of its frozen expanse have become increasingly popular. With some trepidation, Oleg Boldyrev walked ...