4WD

Republic of Sakha-Yakutia Maps. Download for Free.

March 21, 2012

Maps of Republic Sakha-Yakutia

One of the most frequently asked question in regards to the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, that occupies 1/3 of Russia and 1/2 of Siberia + the Far East, is, of course, “Where online to download region maps?”

Always in my reply, I sent links that I could recall at once. Praise god, there is the list now.

Recently, Artem Petukhov, a friend of mine, who runs his local Adventure Club blog in Russian, has compiled the list of maps available online for free download.

If you are an active traveller – motorcyclist, 4wd driver, mountain trekker, hiker, whatever, you might wish to check out the following maps:

Read more…

How does the Road of Bones (Kolyma Highway) look like in the late February? See fresh photos.

March 16, 2012

The Road of Bones, Kolyma Highway, in the late February of 2012.

The Road of Bones, Kolyma Highway, in the late February of 2012.

Leave your sticker at a gas station in Kyubyume on the Road of Bones, Kolyma Highway, Siberia, Russia.

In the previous post I wrote that I had returned from 5-day travel with reindeer herders in Oymyakon, one of the coldest places in the Republic of Sakha-Yakutia, Siberia, Russia.

When we were heading back to Yakutsk through the Road of Bones (officially known as Kolyma Highway), the temperature was somewhere under minus 40 degrees Celsius. Cold weather as usual.

We were driving on a Nissan Patrol 4wd vehicle without any long stops. On our way back – around 1000 km – we spent 16 hours only. Fast. It means the road appeared to be in good condition.

Clean. Partly icy, but covered with sand by road workers. As you know, the Kolyma Highway (including the route through Ust Nera) is considered to be a federal road. So even in the nowhere of Russsian Siberia, roads with such statuses might be maintained all around the year in pretty well manner.

So, if you’re going to Magadan from my city in winter, remember one of my travel advices.

Tip: Reserve one of your travel expedition stickers for a gas station in Kyubyume to attach on the right side of the tube from cashier’s window. It’s a new tradition.

Further, see more photos taken during a few short stops. They were done on February 24th, 2012.

Read more…

2012 Yakutia to Chukotka Winter Road Expedition

March 11, 2012

From Yakutia through Magadan Oblast to Chukotka

From Yakutia through Magadan Oblast to Chukotka

Chukotka Expedition Vehicles

Chukotka Expedition Vehicles

This week famous Russian blogers, photographers and designers, embarked the winter off-road expedition from South Yakutia (Nerungri) to Chukotka (Mys Shmidta).

On March 07 they were already in Yakutsk. In two days in Oymyakon. Yesterday in Ust Nera. Currently, they are heading to Magadan on their pretty glamour 4wd vehicles.

Read more…

Canadian 4wd travellers about their 5-day trip Vladivostok – Yakutsk. They plan to made it to Magadan.

June 13, 2011

Canadian 4wd travellers about their 5-day trip Vladivostok – Yakutsk. They plan to made it to Magadan.

Canadians just arrived to Yakutsk from Vladivostok. They spent 12 days in Vladivostok waiting for their Toyota Landcruiser from custom clearance, and they spent 5 days on the way with camping along the route. Yes, they were really tired.

A week ago, I received the sms on my mobile. It said, “Hi, it’s me, Ian. I got my car from the custom service. Now I and my friends are starting the trip to Yakutsk…” I was like, “Who is Ian?..” Then I thought, if he knew my mobile number, he must have kept in touch with me via AskYakutia.com… and I was right.

I checked my email box, typed his name in the search box and found Ian Veinot‘s message dated April 7th, 2010. A year ago! He wrote:

Hi..Thanks so much for posting all of the information you have so far. I just want to clarify one thing…Is the all weather road from Yakutsk to Magadan a separate route to the Road of Bones? I would like to travel the Road of Bones next year but would like to start in June so am hoping to use the all weather road starting in Yakutsk before returning from Magadan in mid-June on the Road of Bones when the rivers are hopefully lower. Thanks for any advise! Cheers.

My answer was short:

If you go by the new route of the Kolyma Highway, i.e. through Ust Nera, you can do it in June as well. This part is in good condition in the course of the whole summer. If by the old route via Tomtor, in late July and August only because of rivers.

My god! I remember, a few months later, he was also asking me, how to clear the car at the Russian custom. I recommended to forward all custom-related inquires to Walter Colebatch from SibirskyExtreme.

One year past, Ian arrived in Yakutsk, as he promised, in June. It happened yesterday, June 12th, 2011.

Further, please, find out the video with his story about the way Vladivostok to Yakutsk, learn what type of problems he had with his car custom clearance and see what made tired travellers happy in Yakutsk.

Read more…

Winter driving from Yakutsk via Vilyuysk to Mirny [video]

March 6, 2011

What’s that in the video?

This is the road from Yakutsk through Vilyuysk to Mirny. Driving by members of the winter 4wd expedition to Russia’s Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), one of the world’s coldest places on the globe. Four cars – three Nissan Patrols and Toyota FJ Cruiser – and seven men. These are 5th and 6th days of the YakutExpo expedition started on February 24th, 2011, in Nerungri, initiated and conducted by Artemyj Lebedev, a top Russian blogger.

Read more…

How do you prepare your car for the winter in Yakutia?

October 16, 2009

This is a good question asked by a friend of mine from Fairbanks, Alaska. He is a big fan of photography and off-roading. His Flickr nick is rpiereck. Wonderful pictures he has. So… Frankly saying, it was me who first asked him “How do you prepare your Jeep for the winter in Alaska?” In his reply he gave me the detailed description, afterwards he returned my question back :)

An UAZ car when it was -50C in Yakutsk, Yakutia/Siberia, Russia
The above picture was taken in Yakutsk on Dec. 11, 2008, when it was much below -50C.

Further, please, find info on how cars are prepared in the world’s cold regions, Alaska and the coolest Siberian region, Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Read more…

How to ship your moto or vehicle from/to Magadan & from/to Vladivostok by sea?

September 27, 2009

Rejoyce, everyone, who wishes to try the Road of Bones to/from Magadan. Magadan is not the deadend. It is, actually, one of your enroute waypoints.

The only thing you need to know is how to ship your vehicle from/to Magadan by sea. The second thing to remember is that a Turkish driver Ali Eric (www.istanbul2instanbul.com) is really a good fellow. He sent me the precious information on the shipment from Magadan to Valadivostok (or vice-versa) and from Vlad to anywhere in North America.

Further, please, find the info about the shipping company, that helped Ali Eric and two UK moto adventurers Walter & Tony (www.SibirskyExtreme.com) to deliver their 4wd and motorcycles from Magadan to Vladivostok by sea. Read more…

2009 September Report: the condition of the Kolyma Highway (the Road of Bones) Kyubeme – Tomtor – Kadykchan

September 16, 2009

Rainy, rainy, rainy… Chilly, chilly, chilly… Yeah, that’s how it is. September 2009 appeared to be hard for drivers travelling on the Road of Bones. Especially on the old route of the Kolyma Highway from Tomtor to Kadykchan. Everything along the way from Yakutsk through Kyubeme to Tomtor looks perfect. No real obstacles. You can ride to Kyubeme just for 1.5 day and you wouldn’t even stuck.

However, the road after Tomtor is not as smooth as one wishes to be. I called the head of the Tomtor settlement and asked “Is it possible for a 4wd car to drive after Tomtor to Kadykchan?” He said, “Yes. No problems at all. River waters are not so high. You can wade rivers easily. There are puddles on the track though, but if you have a winch, you won’t stuck.” A few moments later I heard “Believe me, everything is okey. I have here the chief of road maintenance department, and he proves my words.”

I passed the information to the Turkish 4WD traveller, Ali Eric (www.istanbul2istanbul.com), when he was already in Khandyga. By the way, you should see his eyes prior to his departure for Magadan. There were excitement and doubts at the same time. As any adventure traveller, he wanted to try the old route of the Kolyma Highway, the most thrilling part of the journey, but his mind said also things like “Be careful. That’s Siberia. You shouldn’t risk.” Further, please, see what happened then. He sent three astonishing photos from Magadan. Read more…

2009 August Road Report: the condition of the Kolyma Highway (the Road of Bones) in Oymyakonsky Ulus

August 18, 2009

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. Read more…

From Yakutsk to Verkhoyansk with a 4WD car

September 12, 2008

Three dutch drivers who are planning to get to Verkhoyansk from Amsterdam with a 4WD car in winter, asked me a LOT of questions. The questions are: Read more…