On August, 4th the third Selection round for "Expedition-Trophy 2008" took place near Novosibirsk. The meeting of the participants was set for 8:30 am. in one of the "Expedition" stores. Traditionally the participants of the selection did not impress the Organizers with punctuality. That is why only at past 9 am the applicants received 2 boxes with personal envelopes, description of the first task, compass and... a newspaper. In their letter to the participants the Organizers paid special attention to the fact that their goal is not to accomplish the tasks faster or better than the others. Their main objective was to find people with the same glow in the eyes, people to be further relied upon in the most difficult situations.

The first joint task was to find a Cultural navigation point — the last church of the ancient Zashiversk, close to Akademgorodok in Novosibirsk region. This task was accomplished rather quickly. When there they were to put that very newspaper to the museum plate and thus get the coordinates of the tree where the task of the next stage was hidden. Despite the requirement to attentively read the task and the regulations, the participants forgot to take the newspaper. To their credit though, they demonstrated wit and having questioned the local population found the next envelope without difficulties. This is how the legend describing the way to the final point of the event — 80 km along the curly country roads of Novosibirsk region — got into the participant's hands.

The Organizers scrupulously selected the finishing ground. They wanted this place to become symbolic for the participants and stick in their memory. And they found a real lighthouse at the Ob'! Well, it was noticed first, but found only some four hours later… It should be noted, that most of the locals have no idea of its existence. Having visited all by-the-shore villages, several KPP and roadway gates, and interrogated fishermen and taxi drivers, the Organizers managed to find the way to the mysterious Obsky lighthouse. Not without a tint of malicious joy, it was decided to make this quality useful for the task — the legend led the participants to the other side of the river, from where they could get a beautiful view of the beacon. The participants were to decide whether to swim there or to find the path to it. The participants declined the idea of getting wet.

After the participants had got to the beacon and seen the "Expedition" flags, they didn't find the most important — the Organizers. Well, it's not in our nature just to sit and wait — the Organizers were approaching the lighthouse in a steamboat! Having approached close enough, the Organizers were again convinced of the participants' experience and skills — they were already making barbeque. The Organizers had to decline the offer to join their cordial company: the participants had to define which of the today's partners will join them in "Expedition-Trophy 2008" and to form teams.

After a lunch break, which was to be found with a compass (just to keep people fit), two new Siberian teams submitted applications for participation in "Expedition-Trophy 2008". The captains phoned the Organizers, who were taking sunbath incognito on the other bank, and declared the members of the teams "Junona i Avos" and "Ermak".

The Organizers are very pleased with the results of the Selection round — both the teams demonstrated their ability to precisely accomplish the tasks well ahead of schedule. Our congratulations and wishes of further success!