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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RUBTSOVTRAVEL.COM

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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