Siberian Adventures

Friday, June 3, 2011
The Mud Rules, and the Absolute Mud Rules Absolutely!
This is the Ural road between regional centers Syktyvkar-Ukhta-Pechora. The worst section is between Nizhny Odes & Irael, where even KAMAZ trucks and other heavy machinery meet their mud “nemesis”. The helpless drivers of private cars ask for a ride on top of heavier trucks, hoping to make any progress. But soon the mud seals their fate, some trucks even overturn and remain lying on their side for days.
a1 Siberian Adventures
(images credit: Evgeny Belyaev)
a2 Siberian Adventures
a3 Siberian Adventures
a4 Siberian Adventures
a5 Siberian Adventures
a7 Siberian Adventures
a8 Siberian Adventures
a9 Siberian Adventures
a10 Siberian Adventures
Walking seems the only way to travel it:
a12 Siberian Adventures
All these drivers were definitely relieved to see the happy welcoming sign at the end of this “highway”:
a13 Siberian Adventures
The pictures are via Evgeny Belyaev. He is an off-road enthusiast and participated in quite a few cross-country 4×4 tours. (they should get sponsored by Land Rover, judging by the tests they put these vehicles through) The following are a few pictures from their adventures in Siberia:
Siberian off-road escapades
This is still ON the road:
a14 Siberian Adventures
a15 Siberian Adventures
In some places the usual mud gives way to almost a meter of water:
a16 Siberian Adventures
a18 Siberian Adventures
Flimsy bridge with 2-meter deep creek below:
a19 Siberian Adventures
There is a road under it somewhere, somewhere really deep:
a20 Siberian Adventures
a21 Siberian Adventures
mud… yummy mud:
a22 Siberian Adventures
The bridge was brand-new (constructed by the people of nearby village), but “Discovery”‘s wheel base seems to be too wide…
a23 Siberian Adventures
a24 Siberian Adventures
One final push across the river:
a25 Siberian Adventures
Sight-seeing: the remains of a mysterious machinery:
a26 Siberian Adventures
Very strange sign in the middle of the forest:
a27 Siberian Adventures
Russian Road Adventures Potpourri
Only two days from Magadan:
a28 640 Siberian Adventures
(image credit: Mark Stowe)
a29 Siberian Adventures
a30 Siberian Adventures
a31 640 Siberian Adventures
a32 640 Siberian Adventures
a33b Siberian Adventures
a33 Siberian Adventures
a34 Siberian Adventures
(originals unknown)
Novosibirsk route M52 speed-control warning sign:
a35 Siberian Adventures
(image credit: Andrey Deriabin)
As you can see off-roading adventures in Russia tend to be more epic than their Western counter-parts. But we are sure that the world in general is full of similar adventure opportunities. Let us know of your own extreme expeditions – on, and off the road.

0 comments:

Post a Comment