Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > Northern and Central Asia
Northern and Central Asia Topics specific to Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Mongolia, China, Japan and Korea
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 20 Sep 2015
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Brunei
Posts: 950
Lena River Ice Road

OK, so the basic plan is to drive Feb - Mar 2017 from Magadan back to Europe using the main TSH as little as possible. I'm looking here for specific information on winter routes, when the rivers and swamps are frozen and the whole area becomes far more accessible.

I've found very patchy information online about a winter road on the Lena River. My intention is to drive from Yakutsk to either Severobaikalsk on the BAM or Ust-Kut or Bratsk. If possible I'd like to find a way to Lake Baikal, but it's not essential. I doubt there would be many options anyhow.

From the maps I have, I see two formal (supposedly all-weather) road, though I have no idea whether or not they exist. They are

- A road running from Yakutsk along the left bank of the Lena as far as Olyokminsk
- A road running north, looping through Mirny to Lensk on the Lena

Do these roads actually exist?

From either Olyokminsk, or Lensk, I suspect there is a winter road, either on the river surface, or parallel to the river. Does anyone know how far this road goes?

Is it possible at all to go from Olyokminsk or Lensk through Kirensk to Ust Kut?

Is fuel (petrol, not diesel) available in these places?

How about a road cutting south, maybe along the Vitim River to connect to the BAM?

I'd be very interested indeed to get any information on this...

Beyond this I'm hoping to drive from Tomsk to Nizhnevartovsk on the Ob, up to Lyabitnangi / Salekhard to visit Yamal, then try to get to Vorkuta, though I have really no idea if the Lyabitnangi - Vorkuta route is driveable. From Vorkuta it should be straightforward.

Thanks for any info

EO
__________________
EurasiaOverland a memoir of one quarter of a million kilometres by road through all of the Former USSR, Western and Southern Asia.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 20 Sep 2015
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
There is no direct road from Yakutsk to Olekminsk. You would have to take the ice road.

There is however a new road built by mining companies that links Olekminsk to Lensk.

In Winter, I was always told that the Lena river becomes an Ice Road. February / March it should be nice n thick.

There is also a perfectly good gravel highway between Yakutsk and Lensk via Vilyuisk, with loads of towns a fuel stations along the way. That road is called the Vilyuisky Trakt. Dont know what its like in winter, but its great in Summer.

From Lensk take the river south west as an ice road. There is fuel at Peledui and Vitim townships, also at Kirensk further south. If you wanted to cut into towards the BAM, I would ask around Vitim township. You may well be able to drive up the frozen vitim river to Bodaibo, from where there is fuel and a perfectly good road to Taksimo on the BAM.

If the good folk in Vitim township say its too dangerous to go on the vitim river, then keep on the Lena to Kirensk. From Kirensk, there is a road to Magistralny, on the BAM.

See the waypoints file for known fuel stop locations along those routes (including along the Ob between Tomsk and NizhneVartovsk), and would be grateful for you to add more after your winter drive.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 21 Sep 2015
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Brunei
Posts: 950
Thanks a lot Walter!

The Vilyuysk - Mirny - Lensk Road is marked on my maps. I'm interested in meeting as many natives as possible, hopefully seeing some herders etc; any idea whether the above road would give me more local interaction than driving on the Lena? I'm veering towards using the road until Lensk though I imagine the lena Pillars (south of Yakutsk) would be quite a sight in winter.

To go from Vitim to Bodaybo and onto the BAM and Baikal would be quite a trip, but I would not want to do it if there is no other traffic. I have no experience of driving on frozen rivers, and I imagine there are potentially catastrophic patches of thin ice due to currents or other local phenomena, which would be totally undetectable. It would be a dream to drive across frozen Baikal though. Do you think the western BAM (Taksimo to Ust-Kut) is doable in winter (I guess more so than summer...)?

A friend visiting Khanty Mansiysk right now just confirmed that there is an ice road on the Ob, so this crazy plan is becoming a real possibility. Only the Labitnangi - Vorkuta leg is uncertain now. Just need a big, petrol 4x4 and an Eberspeicher heater

Any idea if they sell petrol along the Kolyma Highway in winter? I heard most traffic is diesel trucks, though this would require tank / line heaters I imagine.

Will update if / when I make it!

Cheers

EO
__________________
EurasiaOverland a memoir of one quarter of a million kilometres by road through all of the Former USSR, Western and Southern Asia.

Last edited by eurasiaoverland; 21 Sep 2015 at 20:57.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 22 Sep 2015
colebatch's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London / Moscow
Posts: 1,913
You will not really meet locals on the Lena, there are few villages. There are many Yakut villages along the Vilyuisky Trakt between Yakutsk and Mirny. In fact between Yakutsk and Mirny you will hardly meet a single European Russian ... they will all be Yakuts or the native Evens. (Yakuts are not native to Yakutia - they came from the areas bordering near Mongolia - so Yakuts are not herders, and not really any more native than the Russians. If you want to visit a native Even community (with their reindeer herding culture), it will be easier in the Winter. There is one called Syuldyukar, which you will be able to access from Mirny.

From Mirny, drive north west, and take the turnoff to the village of Svetly. From Svetly you will need to drive north along the frozen river for about 25km till you reach the Even settlement of Syuldyukar. Note that the settlement being a settlement by nature means much less reindeer herding than you would get visiting nomadic Evens out on the tundra, but its a good place to start.

Here is a map of the route there from Mirny.... Mirny being the agglomeration of waypoints in the bottom:




In winter there should be no problem buying diesel. Diesel will be very common. They also sell a lot of additives to stop the diesel thickening up too much in the cold. Thats totally standard in that part of the world. There are no special tank or line heaters ... just anti thickening additives. In Yakutia in winter no one turns the engines off ... the engines often run for 6 months non stop because if the engine is off, the motor oil will thicken quickly in the cold, and you wont get the vehicle started again unless you light a fire under the oil pan.


Quote:
Originally Posted by eurasiaoverland View Post
Thanks a lot Walter!

The Vilyuysk - Mirny - Lensk Road is marked on my maps. I'm interested in meeting as many natives as possible, hopefully seeing some herders etc; any idea whether the above road would give me more local interaction than driving on the Lena? I'm veering towards using the road until Lensk though I imagine the lena Pillars (south of Yakutsk) would be quite a sight in winter.

To go from Vitim to Bodaybo and onto the BAM and Baikal would be quite a trip, but I would not want to do it if there is no other traffic. I have no experience of driving on frozen rivers, and I imagine there are potentially catastrophic patches of thin ice due to currents or other local phenomena, which would be totally undetectable. It would be a dream to drive across frozen Baikal though. Do you think the western BAM (Taksimo to Ust-Kut) is doable in winter (I guess more so than summer...)?

A friend visiting Khanty Mansiysk right now just confirmed that there is an ice road on the Ob, so this crazy plan is becoming a real possibility. Only the Labitnangi - Vorkuta leg is uncertain now. Just need a big, petrol 4x4 and an Eberspeicher heater

Any idea if they sell petrol along the Kolyma Highway in winter? I heard most traffic is diesel trucks, though this would require tank / line heaters I imagine.

Will update if / when I make it!

Cheers

EO

Last edited by colebatch; 22 Sep 2015 at 14:17.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride saralou Ride Tales 3565 4 Weeks Ago 18:23
Peru: Unfinished Business - Two 200cc Chinese Motos naotweed Ride Tales 50 23 Apr 2016 22:23
Mongolia - Northern Route in June 2014 Up The Junction Ride Tales 6 29 Jul 2014 10:27
Australia / Gib river road. twowheels03 Australia / New Zealand 16 9 Jun 2014 08:04
A Gringo in Colombia Ride4Adventure Ride Tales 13 20 Apr 2012 03:15

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 14:40.