Back in 1999, when analysts from the Telstar Logistics Division of Procurement were asked to choose a vehicle platform for use by our field operatives, they selected the 4 wheel-drive Jeep Cherokee XJ. Today the XJ remains the backbone of our ground fleet, because superior off-road performance is one of our key system requirements, and the Cherokee XJ is famously capable in that regard. That said, however, we use the XJ's 4WD system almost exclusively in deep winter snows, as company policy frowns upon other kinds of off-road adventure.
Why? Our experiments with off-road motoring suggest that the activity largely consists of a) getting stuck, or b) breaking things that require costly repairs, or c) both. For some time we thought these outcomes were attributable to either our limited off-road experience or our exceptional talent for getting stuck. But after subscribing to 4 Wheel & Off-Road magazine for two years, we came to a very different conclusion: Veteran off-roaders also spend a lot of time a) getting stuck, or b) breaking things that require costly repairs, or c) both. The only difference is, they think this is fun.
Hey, whatever floats your boat. Still, we experienced a nightmarish sense of deja vu recently when we looked at the photos shown here. Getting stuck may be a recreational activity for American enthusiasts, but for drivers in Siberia, it appears to be an essential part of daily life. Because when there are no roads to begin with, off-roading is simply how you get from Point A to Point B.
The pictures shown here came to us via the Dark Roasted Blend weblog, which also provides the following dollop of context (attributed to a Russian gentleman named Evgeny Belyaev who has a LiveJournal page here):
The Mud Rules, and the Absolute Mud Rules Absolutely!
This is the Ural road between regional centers Syktyvkar-Ukhta-Pechora. The worst section is between Nizhny Odes & Irael, where even KAMAZ trucks and other heavy machinery meet their mud "nemesis". The helpless drivers of private cars ask for a ride on top of heavier trucks, hoping to make any progress. But soon the mud seals their fate, some trucks even overturn and remain lying on their side for days.
We don't speak Russian, so we can't verify that these photos were actually taken on the road between Nizhny Odes & Irael in northwestern Russia. But as a demonstration of how just much fun off-roading can be, we'll happily vouch for their authenticity.
(Thanks KK!)
LINK:
Siberian No-Road Adventures (Dark Roasted Blend blog post)
(Photos from Evgeny Belyaev via Dark Roasted Blend)
Well the above shown pictures tells that there are so many problem comes while driving if the roads are like above shown is int it..
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Shelly
caravan
Posted by: caravan | 13 January 2010 at 01:57 AM