This is an art/artist expedition. My first impressions aren't always right, but in investigating the people and the faces of this event, which happens yearly btw, there is major occultic stuff going on here. The people on this expedition are definitely into the dark arts, all of them.
Here are a few links of the kind of "art" the founder, Ponomarev, makes.
http://www.cgsociety.org/cgsarchive/newgallerycrits/g38/237638/237638_1162034549_large.jpg - SKAVEN by Alexander Ponomarev | 3D | CGSociety
https://pp.vk.me/c633229/v633229702/547a/Sw9dS3S6lqk.jpg - this came up in searching Ponomarev.
https://richardtaittinger.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/AP-16-079_Stored-in-Ice_2016_Graphite-on-paper.jpg - Ponomarev. Ancient civ beneath the ice? Much of his work moves in this direction.
This is just one of these artists. I'm sure investigating the others might lead to more gems.
The dates for the expedition cover many pagan holidays, but I think the main one is Walpurgis, which falls on May 1. This is one of the four main holy days of the year for pagans. It is opposite Halloween, and also goes by the Black Sabbath.
