Paris to New York: Progress Update

Trapped between mountains

Mar. 10, 2009 By

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Note - as of this morning, extreme weather is currently preventing the LIVE GPS tracking from functioning, so the map may appear blank... keep checking back!

Man, if you aren't following the Goodyear / Jeep Paris to New York Expedition, you need to turn off "Dancing with the Stars" and get with some REAL action! This is incredible. Here's a taste of what you've missed recently, as the team tries to finish that last few kilometers of Siberia, heading for their crossing of the Bering Strait:

 

March 03, 2009: 32nd short message (08:23 a.m. MEZ)

Still no progess. No movement for the last 12 hours. Force of storm has increased once more. We needed to refuel. Therefore we have 2 full main tanks appr. 200 l reserve at the moment, which means one additional refueling of the main tanks + rest for driving. Enough fuel for 96 hours, food reserve ok, beverage is getting scarce. We are melting snow. We just built an emergency tent out of Russian canvas, which we brought with us for worst cases. We mounted it over the vehicle bonnets as there is more and more snow getting into the engine compartment and passenger cabin.

 

March 05, 2009: 36th short message (11:57 a.m. MEZ)

Trapped between mountains

It is really stressful.

On the one hand we are trying hard to find and modify a 12v fan engine, one the other hand the weather conditions appr. 30km outside of the mine are such extreme, that we are not able to continue. A convoy consisting out of 2 D10 bulldozer, one chain-driven vehicle in front and 7 trucks, which is on its way to the mine of Ewekinot, is trapped in snow masses since several days. Nobody knows where they are. They assume them to be appr. 32km away from Valonisti in valley in front of the dreaded pass. There is no radio contact with the trapped people and no dozers are starting due to safety reasons. It is simply not possible. Even a scout car which intended to start today came back. Sh**.

 

March 07, 2009: 38th short message (10:32 a.m. MEZ)

Team in good health, vehicles ok, fuel reserve low - only 350l left. We turn down the engines at every stop, heating with the Webasto Thermo-Tops as they only need 0.5l per hour. Outside temperature appr. -30°. Food reserve for appr. 6 days. We have to escape here. It is really a fight against time and a decreasing fuel reserve.


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