Frankly saying, this week I thought “Well, on the next Monday we are promised to see the first snowfall in Yakutsk. Winter is really at the hand. It’s time to think about the cold.” Besides, I noted that, according to the latest Google Analytics statistics, Oymyakon, the so-called Pole of Cold, became one of the most popular blog tags. I started expecting winter-related questions and something like “How to drive the icy Kolyma Highway?”
At the end of this month, I thought, there would be no more questions about the current condition of the road from Yakutsk to Magadan, especially when I had already given the answer in the 2009 September Report post… Hehe… I am truly smiling at the moment. What I love in AskYakutia.com is that it keeps providing unexpected occurrences. It is never possible for me to predict the type of the next query. Yesterday I received the following message:
“I don’t know if you remember me. I am a French man, who discussed about the Kolyma map with you some few months ago. I am in Yakutsk now. I came from Paris by car (1 month!) and I want to drive to Magadan by the new road, but I don’t have a 4wd, just an old Ford Fiesta. Is it possible [for me to get to Magadan via Ust-Nera] now?”
Wow! The query knocked me down.
First, he is already in Yakutsk and a few days before the first snowfalls.
Second, what is this little bee-like car doing here, in Siberia, hah?!
Well, when locals say about the ride on the Kolyma road, they have in mind a 4WD or a simple NIVA vehicle at least. So, we have never even considered over going far away by an ordinary car. Even if we happened to think about it, we would rather hem and articulate shortly and doubtfully “Maybe!” and in a few moments we would definitely conclude “But it would be much better to go by a UAZ… at the worst.”
A French driver… H-m-m… French… It goes without saying, he obviously stands out from other travelers. He deserves some respect for sure. He was brave enough to arrive on his little car in Siberia and dares to hit the dreadful road ever built by Stalin’s prisoners.
Is it really possible for the bee-like car to make the whole way to Magadan?
A French guy made me thinking intensively, but for a while. Yeah, it is not a question to be answered at once. That’s the matter of who can give me the wanted info.
I got in touch with two friends of mine.
A Turkish 4WD driver Ali Eric (about his trip) was the first one, whom I called yesterday. A week ago he made the way to Magadan from Yakutsk. At present he is in Vladivostok waiting for his off-road vehicle shipped by sea from Magadan.
Ali Eric:
- I think an ordinary car can be damaged a little, but actually it can run the new route of the Kolyma Highway [via Ust-Nera] without any serious problem. The road is passable, reconstructed. There are two harsh parts though. A few km after Khandyga and about 100 km after Ust-Nera. But he won’t be stuck at all. Certainly, he can experience unpleasant vibration on some occasions. Even if he will be stuck, many local vehicles bypass on the route daily, and help can be found easily.
A Tomtor local contact, Semen Baishev, was as brief as possible:
- Yes, an ordinary car can get to Magadan easily. The bridge over the Elga River has been constructed.
CONCLUSION:
The Kolyma Highway [the new route] is in good condition and can be used by any car the whole year around. Regardless of what was said, a driver must stay alert, drive carefully & keep in mind that he is on Siberia’s Road of Bones.
PS: I’ll try to keep contact with the French guy and ask him for the report.
UPDATE, Oct. 13, 2009:
The last what I’ve heard of the brave French adventurer is that he damaged his Ford Fiesta, returned to Yakutsk, put his car under repair and went home. Yeah, the Road of Bones appeared not to be the speedy highway. Looking forward to hearing from him.
Similar Posts:
- 2009 August Road Report: the condition of the Kolyma Highway (the Road of Bones) in Oymyakonsky Ulus
- 2009 September Report: the condition of the Kolyma Highway (the Road of Bones) Kyubeme – Tomtor – Kadykchan
- The old Kolyma roadway: Kyubyume – Magadan Oblast
- 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
