Baltic ice road challenge
 

What started as a chilhood dream is slowly turning into reality, To Drive across the Baltic Sea!! With a little work we have found our route but all pending on the weather, Leaving Sometime in December 2008 We plan to drive across four ice roads linking islands off Estonia, Our Vehicle is a Discovery 300 TDi,1994,
I'm sure we will have loads of pit falls but a load of fun on the way, anyone wishing to join us then you are very welcome:funmeteryes::D

Hi lidel,

Don't want to distress you but sometime winters in Estonia are not enough cold for opening ice roads between islands.

In example last winter (2006/2007) only 2 ice roads were open: from mainland to Saaremaa and Vormsi. Other roads to Hiiumaa and Kihnu were closed. Year before was better (after many years) and we could take even the road to Kihnu with bikes. There have been years ice roads were not open at all. So it all depends on weather conditions.

Usually the coldest winter month in February and warmest is December. So I woulds suggest to leave this trip in January or February, not December. Anyway this year no ice roads are open yet, we haven't have any cold yet :)

--
Janc

Janc, Thanks very much for the information this is the sort of stuff we are looking for, Its seems very difficult to pin down anyone who can give us any details on the ice roads!!! ie weight limits ect?? We will be leaving late January 2009 to give us half a chance but we are travelling open minded so if the weather is agaist us there is always other years
Once again thanks
Adi / Dinah; ps Any other information would be wonderfull:thumbup1:

There is a TV programme running in the UK at present which is about the ice roads in Canada - travelling on about 2 feet (600mm) of ice, but obviously this is somewhat variable, 5-6 wheel trucks are carrying loads of up to 17 tons.

The road itself has a "highway authority" responsible for maintaining the running surface and assessing the strength etc and then advising the truckers about what is a safe load - maybe it is the same in the Baltic?

About ice road limitations:
Ice road - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The links in there go to the same TV programme that has been showing in the UK recently - it has been relatively interesting, without too much high drama but with plenty of factual content.

A question for Janc
Could you please give us an update on the weather situation up your way?? I know 2009 is a fair way off but we keep hearing reports that the weather is really mild up in Estonia and no ice roads have formed so far in 2008, Many thanks
Adi

No snow, no ice... It's been so unusually warm winter so far here, but indeed scientist say our lattitude is among those that are affected the most by the global warming effects in the winter time.

As Margus already said, we have very poor snow conditions this year. It has been officially announced no main ice roads will be open at all.
You can check weather forecast of Estonia from here: EMHI

Ok thanks for that, Then can you try harder for 2009:thumbup1: We will continue with the plans and see what happens, we plan to leave February 2009 and which ever way we cross we plan to have a ball!!:thumbup1:
Cheers
Adi

Hoof sponsoring, Baltic ice road challenge,
 

The Baltic ice road challenge is being launched at the 24 hr Le Mans on the 15th/ 16th June, come and see us on the Beasejour camp; sponsored by Hoof !!!
The planning for the trip is going well and Margo the discovery is well on her way with preperation,

Most of the boys toys bought from ebay saved a fortune untill we drove 1500 miles collecting everything!!! ok back to ebay:scooter::funmeteryes:

I guess it does not pay to buy parts from ebay then? I had thought of doing the same myself, but would have to travel from Morocco to the UK to collect them.:confused1:

E bay has been great fun and to be honest i have bought top gear, but have only bought things like Safari snorkel, wheels, diesel cab heaters, sump gaurds, ect, major stuff we have bought new!!

But as i said great fun and you meet some lovely people!!:D

I'll be at Le Mans, for my annual pilgrimage, we'll have to meet up if we can.

And I've got to ask, who, or what, are Hoof (apart from the obvious answer)?

Hi hoof is a brand new company making shirts, well any clothing really but mainly shirts for us larger guys, any size they limit every design to 25 or make one offs, They are making our Baltic ice road ream shirts with all the logos ect, Watch out for the name Hoof they really have tapped into a graet market,
have a look on hoof4u.com
anyway we are down on the Beasejour campsite if you pm us we can give you are numbers, plus we have a hotel and bar here in france and overlanders are very well looked after!! drink is on the bar !!!:thumbup1: