4x4 Mag - Siberia '99 Van Pur Expedition

Siberia 99 Van Pur Expedition

by Janna Zbrog

Summer in Siberia ... 14th August was the date when the Siberia 99 Van Pur expedition, organized by Land Rover Club PL, returned to Poland. Four Land Rovers, two of them with Polish crews, one Danish and another one with Danish- German men, reached Pripolarnyj in their vehicles, struggling to make their way through the Ural Mountains.

This whole event remains an undoubted success as the participants turned out to be the first foreigners who, via the Ural Mountains, arrived in Tumenskaja oblast. We have learned that in 1998 a group of Germans tried to go the distance but, driving huge lorries, they had to turn back halfway. Earlier in 1987 a group of Swedish explorers decided to have a try and at that time were evacuated by helicopters in the mountains. There should be also noticed that all the transport takes place by air in this area in summer.
Our arrival in Pripolarnyj caused a real sensation and won genuine admiration from the local Our arrival in Pripolarnyj caused a people. I must say that at every place where our Land Rovers were seen we were asked about our journey and its purpose.

The inhabitants helped us as much as they could, and we were greeted with whole-hearted sincerity everywhere we went, from both individuals and local authorities. We left Poland on the 13th July. Travelling through Lithuania and Latvia our vehicles headed for Russia. We were all full of doubt as we had no maps suitable for touring by road. We were also lacking elementary information about petrol availability and its price: to sum up we didn’t possess much.

Land Rover Club PL visit our web site at : http://www.off-road.pl/lrc where you can find more information about this Expedition and plans concerning next year.