Vilyuiski Trakt by Landrover
 

Hi All

Watched the Sibersky Extreme DVD while doing a little research on my route later in the year for June July August time. Thanks for the DVD guys I enjoyed it immensely.

This route seemed reasonably straight forward and I reckon should be ok in a very capable Landrover.

From what I gather there are 5 ferry crossings en route in addition to catching the ferry from Ust-Kut to Lensk (3 days). So I reckon on 8-10 days?

Realise it will be a winter playground(!) at the mo but has anybody driven it in the last couple of years in the 'summer season' and can give me any more info.

Thanks

Callum :thumbup1:

I also rode the Vilyuisky Trakt in summer 2010 as well as the 2009 trip that featured in the DVD. Yes you will be fine in a capable landrover.

I would allow 12 days (from Irkutsk or Krasnoyarsk to Yakutsk) ... make sure you have the waypoints for the loading location in Ust Kut. Its a pain to find it without the waypoint. There is normally a barge every 2-3 days ... worst case scenario, you could have to wait 3 days for the barge. There is of course, no schedule for the barges or the ferries.

Barge rates were 4000 rubles per metre of vehicle length in 2009 and 4400 in 2010. Expect about 5000 rubles (about 100 quid) per metre of vehicle length. Maybe 450 quid for a Landy. Bikes often get on for free :)

Thanks Walter

Do you have the waypoint for the ferry at Ust-Kut? That would be really useful.

Having had some advice from Tony P(thanks Tony) re the Bam route we have decided against this except perhaps to go have have a little play and see where we get to - obviously with the ability to turn around being important!

However I have read that from Fevral'sk to Komsomolsk na-Amure is possible in a dry season. I did read this in a guide book so it may be complete BS and probably a few years old?!

Is there still the same problem with bridges down big river crossings etc on the Western Bam?

Realising that we will have to go back and do this all again on bikes one day but first we want to get my Landrover back to Australia and it tends to get seasick so we prefer to drive it :cool4:

Thanks again

Callum

All useful Siberian waypoints are in the first post on the first thread in the Northern Asia section (this section)

Actually I meant Eastern Bam on that last post doh !!!

Every local we met said Fevralsk to Tynda was impossible even in their huge 6wd Ural trucks. These were serious hard men living and moving about there all their lives, not 'townie' adventurers.

Between Fevralsk and Komsomolosk we encountered many rivers, few with crossable bridges, even for bikes. Some rivers were deep, all were rocky. Urals carried us across some, a construction grader another. Others we used rail bridges (on one met a train coming head on!)

One river was chest deep and took us over a day to get across having built up the river bed with every loose rock in the district. We created a narrow ford that was then only waist deep and pushed the bikes across. The current there was a huge battle, made worse by obstructing some flow with our ford.

Thanks Tony

Looks like it will just have to be the TSH from Tynda out to Vladivostok. By then we may well be looking for an easy run out anyways. It sounds like any effort by 4WD would be nothing but stupidity and Likely to lead to complete vehicle loss so thanks for your advice

I think just taking little side trips off the main TSH route to do a little bit of exploring will allow us to camp off the main highway and find interesting little villages.

Really sounds like you guys had a tough time battling your way through. Awesome effort to manage to complete the project. It will be interesting to see if the road is ever re-established

Regards

Callum