I am looking for a source for high quality maps for Chukotka and Sahka regions. I have tried Stanford's but without success.

Does anyone have a web link they can direct me towards?

Thanks in advance.

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I have answered you by PM ... I understand you are looking at taking trucks in the winter.

You may also want to look up the story of an amazing Italian woman, Stefania Zini, (based in Moscow) who in 2000 drove a truck round the world, first heading east and driving over the frozen tundra to the edge of Chukotka - the village of Uelen.

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Thanks for that - she look like a very interesting woman huh! My truck too is a ZIl 131. I don't intend going to that far though; Уэлен looks like our equivalent of Land's End so doesn't have the same significance to me as it would to a native Russian - 180 east sure does though!

I agree with her in that this region is one of the world's great places; the remoteness is very enticing to me.

I have considered how it might be possible to take a bike to this place too. I believe no motorcycle has ever made it this far and to take a bike to 180 east would be a first.

From what I know about this place it would only be possible in winter. Most of the technical problems could be overcome, the greatest of which would be the 600-1000 mile range any vehicle needs here.

It is interesting to consider what features are required for an extreme cold weather bike. For example, a Zil is designed for Siberia; at the end of each day you drain the water from the engine and put it back in through a heater the next morning. All polymers (tyres, seals etc) are chosen for their "glass transition point" so they remain working up to -40c, the average temperature here in winter. Below this temperature air/oil seals will fail and tyres can simply shatter. Plastic bodywork on most bikes would become brittle and fall to pieces. An air cooled engine would be required.

Electrical systems would need to be adapted to the cold with uprated alternator and duel batteries.

Redundancy in critical systems would have to built in. Repairs in this place are not practical.

Ice tyres would be needed.

Nothing with LCD displays would work here.

Clothing would have to designed or adapted. The draft through a visor would necrotise flesh in seconds.

The extreme cold has been overcome by other adventurers but it would be the most dangerous of all possible bike rides and an exercise in endurance and possibly survival. However, it has never been done and can only be done first once...

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Fastship,

This HUBB reference has a web site that may be of interest.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...-2006-cd-32981

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Chris

Hi, look at this website :: Ñåâåðíàÿ äèàãîíàëü ::
My friend did it by a GAZ 66 Diesel. You should have a petrol cistern for your ZIL 131. Noone go there by petrol vehicle. The fuel consumption on winter roads for truck is about 100 liters diesel per 100 km. For petrol engines it will be more.

Alex

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Hey Alex - your friend's were my inspiration for this trip. I have e-mailed them but got no reply so I am planning my trip independently.

I admire Jura and his mates and the GAZ 66 is a great truck but it is a petrol engine. Diesel engines have a lot of problems at those low temperatures and my ZIL has the same engine as the GAZ 66 but you are correct - at 5 - 6 miles per gallon I need extra tanks!

I am modifying my engine with an American Edlebroke carburetor which will DOUBLE mileage to 12 mpg! and with extended range tanks I will have a 1,000 mile range.

Although I am carrying a URAL 650 on the back I have been thinking if this trip would be possible on a bike in winter too and how to overcome the difficulties. No one has been here on a bike - ever!

Anything you can tell me about the zimnik's would be very much appreciated.

I can't start the trip until I sell my house which is impossible here at the moment

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Jura is not so good english speaker, furthermore he en route now. It is a 4x4 RTW trip "World Spirit". He is one of participants. Before starting this trip Jura bought Yamaha XT600. His next plan is riding Chukotka in Summer by motorbike. But noone knows how to do it. Except Jura.
So, about fuel. The most tracks in Chukotka are impassable for petrol vehicles. There are no petrol. The all vehicles are Diesel trucks. You can find a petrol in towns only. In general noone stop engine there. The idling fuel consumption is very big in comparison with diesel, furthermore the petrol exhaust is mortally dangerous. Every year a lot of people die inside cars because of choking gas. Secondly, the peculiarity of driving on the bottomless snow mean by very slow speed without stepping on the gas. You should trample down snow very, very slowly. How will you do it with the petrol engine?
So, how speak in Russia, "To be afraid of wolves- to not go in the forest." Or like this.
Chukotka is very interesting place for me too. Two years I dream of this region. And I will go some day necessarily! This Oct I will be going to Africa. But my next plan is Chukotka. Maybe next winter...

Keep in touch.

rubtsov_alexATmail.ru

Alex

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RUBTSOVTRAVEL.COM

Hi Alex - I need to improve my Russian as well!

Thank you for your interesting comments, this is why I need good maps! The best range I can get from my Zil will be ~1,600km so planning is important. Assuming there is petrol/gasoline in Pevek then I think (only think) I will have the range but more work is required. If not then I can tow a fuel trailer. The Zil 131 will run on the same petrol/gasoline mix as a diesel at a ratio of ~50/50. In fact the Zil 131 will run on anything that burns! I could use a diesel engined truck but in other parts of the world diesel is harder to find and more expensive than petrol. This is part of my world trip.

The Russian Army think that gasoline engine trucks are superior to diesel in a severe cold climate but in reality there are as you say, more diesel trucks now but the fuel needs to be mixed with jet fuel or similar to remain liquid. Even the mighty URAL has the option of a petrol/gasoline engine for cold climate. The ZIL 131 manual instructs the driver to drain the engine coolant each night and there is a tap on the bottom of the engine for this; the following morning the coolant is put back into the engine through a small petrol powered boiler on top of the engine which warms the coolant and therefore the engine block and its' oil. This proceedure takes around 30 minutes. The engine can then be turned off over night and the "box" were you sleep has it's own seperate gasoline powered heater on the outside which is also an NBC (nuclear, chemical, biological) filter too

I want to visit as many sand deserts as I can so for sand and snow I will fit wider tyres (like KRAZ) and some other modifications for extra reliability will be done.

I know how you feel about Chukotka, I feel drawn to this place!!!! Jura's web site is such an inspiration.


I have to persuade a second truck to come along as doing this in alone is not a good idea. Do you think special permission from the authorities are still required to visit Chuckotka?

I am still interested in doing this trip on a bike IN WINTER and have a few ideas on how this might be done if you are interested. If I can get some money together I will do one or the other so yes, do let us keep in touch.

My Zil 131:

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As you know, two persons from Holland and Germany were taking part in expedition. Max from Holland have had a laptop and GPS. I think he have a useful waypoints and tracks for you. I do not have his e-mail, but I can ask it from Jura. Maybe he can answer me.

Alex

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RUBTSOVTRAVEL.COM

Hi, I have asked Jura about Max from Holland. This is Max e-mail: maxvanderwerffAThotmail.com
Jura in Vladivostok now. Sept, 5 they will ferry to Japan.

Alex

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RUBTSOVTRAVEL.COM

Thank you Alex - I will e-mail him and let you know how it goes.

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I really planned to go to Chukotka this winter. But I could not find a likely car for this. I want to do it by Toyota LC 60 Diesel. It`s not so easy to find this car in good condition. Furthermore I never traveled by car. It`s new for me and it takes a long time to prepare the car. But I do not leave the idea. I just be in starting of big African trip but I think about the next journey.

Alex

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