Siberian Adventures

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.

(images credit: Evgeny Belyaev)








Walking seems the only way to travel it:

All these drivers were definitely relieved to see the happy welcoming sign at the end of this “highway”:

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:


In some places the usual mud gives way to almost a meter of water:


Flimsy bridge with 2-meter deep creek below:

There is a road under it somewhere, somewhere really deep:


mud… yummy mud:

The bridge was brand-new (constructed by the people of nearby village), but “Discovery”‘s wheel base seems to be too wide…


One final push across the river:

Sight-seeing: the remains of a mysterious machinery:

Very strange sign in the middle of the forest:

Russian Road Adventures Potpourri
Only two days from Magadan:

(image credit: Mark Stowe)







(originals unknown)
Novosibirsk route M52 speed-control warning sign:

(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.