Shipping out of Magadan, and Time of Year
 

We're (2) planning to arrive in Magadan towards the end of this summer (from Europe).

What's the optimum time to aim for say Yakutsk? As I understand it, we shouldn't be too early in order that river levels have subsided from snow melt, but also I assume we should be getting there when temperatures are still decent. Late August maybe?

And how about shipping out of Magadan? Not quite sure if we'll air freight to Anchorage (or U.S. west coast), or back to UK. Can either be arranged at short notice, once there, or need advance planning?

I was in Yakutsk and Magadan in 2011; hopefully not too dated at this point, but I'm sure someone else will come along.

Timing-wise, I think the best time is late July-early August, although you've got some buffer on each side. IIRC, it starts snowing out there by September, so I would definitely try to get in and out by the end of August.

At least in 2011, there was no airfreight out of Magadan--none of the airlines had an appropriately equipped/licensed aircraft to ship out of Magadan. Don't know if that is changed, but I doubt it. Most people send via ship to Vladivostok, then make further arrangements from there. For shipping you will probably need to make arrangements on the spot, but that could involve waiting a couple/several days for a ship.

Getting cold in September. We were in Yakutsk end of August in 2013 then Magadan and back, down to Vlad in late September. Icy puddles were out near Magadan early to mid sept.

I don't think Magadan has the ability for international customs clearance, certainly by ship/container as we looked at this with our 4x4. It was also fairly expensive for a container to be shipped to Vlad and staying in Magadan while this got sorted. We drove back from Mag to Vlad instead.

Speak to Yuri at Links Ltd about getting your bike from Magadan.

G

I was there last summer late August, and we had lot of rain. From Ulan Bator to Magadan, on a 4 weeks trip we had probably 3 weeks rain...

check my trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBeaXAjeDv4

Yakutsk - Magadan
 

I would say you could push the early season side to late June, But early July better.

Early June is very likely to have washed out sections of road on the federal highway.

Thanks Walter (and others!)

We won't reach Yakutsk before August, as we can't leave the UK until early June. That's cutting things tighter than I'd like, but I can't do it any other way (this year at least). When I've done big trips before (trans Americas and UK to Cape Town) I do tend to be comfortable around 5000 miles a month, so it's probably not too bad.

What I really need to know is, 'How late can I ride the Road of Bones?' I'd rather be cold and dry than warm n wet! I know it's colder than Alaska, and conditions will be a lot worse, but I rode the Dalton Highway early September 2006 after everyone told me it was too late. Liked it so much I went up the Dempster to Inuvik a week later - spurred on by a German guy who'd turned back on a 650 (or 80?) GS, telling me not to attempt it as it was too slippery ;-)
https://www.flickr.com/photos/iancha...57603628020663

BTW we met a few years back at Austin's barge, when he did a BBQ for the Pyle brothers who'd just returned from China.

Snow starts approx September 10th in that part of the woods. A few people who have arrived over the years 15-20th September in Magadan have reported freezing their asses off along the way and riding through snow.

The following is latest in the year bikes have arrived at Magadan (that I am aware of) .... End of September ... they experienced -20C temps, having to daisy chain 3 batteries together to start one engine. Having to park bike sumps over a morning fire to improve the viscosity of the oil before turning engine over etc.
http://www.donkeyandthemule.com.au/September-2010.html

Thanks, just what I needed to know. I'll aim to be out by the end of August. Unforeseen problems and delays may mean we stray into September.