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It Must Be The Shortest Route to the White Mountain
(80km)
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On the Eve of the Old New Year (January 13) there
happened to be the first (this year) serious male expedition on
snowmobiles organized by the Perm Off-Road Club and the company
'Dilos-Extreme' (practically a true one-day trip). Maybe not everything
was realized but so much the better and more interesting. It was
New Year holiday yet!
This snowmobile trip was fairly peculiar for the reason that much
was our first experience, that is using additional machinery (two
trucks for transporting snowmobiles and a bus for the participants).
We feel obliged and glad to add that this exiting action could
be appreciated not only by our participants but also by site guests
wishing to be in the know without leaving their home (via Internet).
XXI century - the Global Positioning System (GPS), Global System
for Mobile Ñommunications (GSM) and Internet will let us know
everything about the route (where you are and how many kilometers
you have covered). Even if it seems to you that you are alone
in the forest be sure it is not so, they see you on the display,
they worry about you and always ready to come to your help. (The
transmission was accomplished by the group of companies 'MobilTrans').
The same could be said about our participants. They had just left
Ivan-Gora which is situated in the village of Gomovo but we already
knew where they were, how far they had gone, their average speed
and the coordinates on the path. Here is a stop since 11.40 to
12.30, i.e. the crossing of the river Byrma. Here is the Village
Bizyar. And here the group is coming up to the White Mountain
- the end of the route. I called Alexandr Postonogov: 'Are they
there?' 'Not yet. They have not yet come up the hill.'
When the expedition was over we met the participants and the organizers
of the trip Alexandr Postonogov and Evgeniy Kopygin. We were eager
to get to know the details as they say at first hand. When time
passes much will be forgotten and they will only say 'we had a
nice time…' that is why the first impressions are always the brightest
and the most significant.
Alexandr and Evgeniy were very kind to share their emotions with
us.
- How difficult was the expedition? How did it go actually?
Alexandr: January 13, 13 snowmobiles. 2/3 of the track was explored
in winter and 1/3 in summer. It was a hard job. Above-zero temperature,
sticky snow, no ice on the small rivers and unexplored areas happened
to come our way during the dark part of the day; complex rides
up the hills and hard wading, sometimes we had to drive on the
steep slopes.
Evgeniy: We did not expect the first part of the route to be so
complicated as it had been studied during the trip preparation.
We think it was caused by the thaw, the snow became heavier and
the ice had broken up on the rivers. Maybe it was the reason of
not the best preparation of some participants, who could not correspond
to the general order. The second part was quite dynamic. Apparently
everybody wanted to get to the evening service in the cloister.
And they did it!
- What was the most memorable and were there interesting moments?
Alexandr: Two snowmobiles were drowned. One vehicle sank almost
completely, we could see only the steering wheel. Although after
rescuing the mobiles were quickly reanimated. As for the climb
onto the hill to the Belogorskiy Cloister it was far from being
easy. But all is well that ends well. After finishing all the
participants (more than 20 guys) called upon a caf? at the foot
of the White Mountain. Everyone was sharing their opinions and
impressions eating the finest pelmeni (a Russian dish) and drinking
all supply of beer in the caf?. The dinner cost 1600 rubles.
Evgeniy: The first crossing was undoubtedly unforgettable when
the first snowmobile drowned up to the steering-wheel in the water.
The second case of sinking was not so impressing. It seemed not
so shocking for we knew that we would surmount this obstacle.
The third machine could have sunk but did not thanks to the pilot's
mastery. We also remembered the second crossing. A bridge, a real
bridge, built without a single nail for 15 minutes helped us to
cross the river.
On the slope of the White Mountain when the snowmobiles got stuck
in the snow somebody said f…, we will not come up, but everyone
carried on digging and they came up.
- Were all the participants ready for the trip?
Alexandr: Yes, everybody was morally and technically ready.
Evgeniy: The process of preparing impressed me a lot! The guys
began warming-up sitting in the bus. When they were close to the
start the morale was becoming higher and higher.
To be honest it is difficult to say how well was prepared each
participant. But the team in general was prepared very well, for
A level. Hand saws were in every snowmobile (unfortunately they
did not saw) for this happily everyone had a petrol saw. Certainly
everyone had delicious snacks. Several participants had a rope.
And almost each guy had a spade.
- Did the organizers provide for every eventuality and how did
it influence the trip?
Alexandr: Happily there were no slips. We acted according to the
scheme. The bus and the trailer for snowmobiles were a great achievement
in the organization.
Evgeniy: I did not notice any shortcomings.
- What one should pay attention to in organizing the expedition
next year?
Alexandr: The route should be shorter when the participants are
numerous. And places for a halt ought to be stipulated for.
Evgeniy: It much depends on the track. Maybe we should better
think over a good final dinner with a large fire before coming
back home.
- What would you wish to the participants-to-be?
Alexandr: To be quick on the toes!
Evgeniy: To get as much pleasure and satisfaction as possible!
In general the expedition succeeded. The team did a full examination
of the track Perm - Bizyar - The White Mountain. Thus we have
a wonderful track along wild outskirts of the city of Perm. This
must be the shortest way to the White Mountain (only 80km) along
old deserted roads.This is only the beginning! Everything is yet
to come. We are looking forward the Championship of Perm Territory
in orienteering on snowmobiles, which means new expeditions, new
luck and failure.
You can find information about all this on our site this year.
Happy New 2007 Off-Road Year!
O.B.
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