As far as you remember, the Kolyma Highway the east part of which is well known as the Road of Bones splits after the settlement of Kyubyume (Kyubeme) into two directions. Further find some new short reports on these routes.
Photo by Sibirsky Extreme, July 2009.
One goes from Kyubeme north-east via Elga, Ust-Nera, and Artyk to Kadykchan (Magadan Oblast). As the UK Sibirsky Extreme adventure bikers Walter & Tony reported, the northern branch of the Kolyma road is “really the only route possible now” all the year around. Since 2005 new bridges were built, the road was partly widen and graded. Initial thought occurred to them that it was in excellent shape.
That’s right. Much road works have been done. In November 2008, for instance, the part of the Kolyma Highway between 852 km and 919 km was officially upgraded. Besides… and here comes good news… In this August a new bridge over the Elga River, 892 km of the Kolyma Highway, was also officially finished. It is concrete and 347 m length. Piers are wide and can stand ice floating in spring. So, this bridge will be functional for the whole year.
Another goes from Kyubeme straight east through Tomtor and Kouranah-Sala to Kadykchan (Magadan Oblast). This route is reported to be partly abandoned and decaying more and more every year. What does it mean?
If you wish reaching the Pole of Cold in Oymyakon, you can do it at any time. The part between Kyubeme and Tomtor, where you can turn north to the Pole of Cold, is used intensively by local villagers and pretty much in good condition. It is mostly dust and partly gravel. But that’s okey for any cars and motorcycles to drive at high speed.
The only obstacle might be the tributaries of the Suntar River right after Kyubeme. At the moment they’ve got low waters. July was dry. So any transport can just wade small rivers that can be furious in the time of spring flooding and mountain snow melting. High waters usually happen from the end of April till the end of June along the whole way from Kyubeme to Kadykchan. Yeah, forgot to say, no new bridges, collapsed only, on the route.
The track (it looks more like a track, than a road) between Tomtor and the border with Magadan Oblast is also okey. Any car and motorcycle can go through… again in the time of low waters what we had in July and have now in August.
The worst part, as Czech OFF Siberia project bikers Tomas & Eva reported, starts right after the border with Magadan Oblast. Remember, I am telling about the current summer condition.
When returned to Yakutsk from Magadan, Czech adventurers, who are travelling on one bike almost the half of the world, said there was a great amount of wide puddles on the track after Yakutia. Some of them are 0,5-1 meter deep. One car without other vehicles’ help can just stuck for ever. In cases of a few puddles there is no chance to drive around, as the area is mostly marshland. Only going straight through. But… motorcycles can go, if they will be pushed by bikers. Attention! Motorcyclists, be ready to push your baby.
Another bad news is that the track is damaged in some places. You may see big holes taking the 2/3 space of the road width. It is not a problem to motorcycles, but can be as such to four-wheels vehicles. So, car drivers, be ready to build small “emergency” bridges over holes. And be careful, driving at high speed. Tomas said he got down once, when he hadn’t notice a hole beforehand at the speed of 80 km/h.
The third bad news is the high bank of the Ayan-Yuryakh River. About 1 meter high. Bikers can, certainly, push their motos up the bank, but cars can doubtfully repeat this trick. It will be almost impossible for trucks to do.
By the way, the route between Tomtor and Kadykchan is not used by locals at all. Only by adventurers. And only in summer. The best period is from the end of July till the midst of September. In winter the route is totally buried under snow. In spring and the rest of autumn high waters are reported.
Hope this current report appears to be useful and you are encouraged to tweet freely.
Similar Posts:
- 2009 Photo Report: The old route of the Kolyma Highway (Road of Bones) by Czech OFF SIBERIA motorcyclists
- The Kolyma Highway / the Road of Bones
- The old Kolyma roadway: Kyubyume – Magadan Oblast
- UPDATED: Travelling through Yakutsk, the Road of Bones, Magadan, Chukotka & Alaska
- Travel condition reports on the Road of Bones?
