April 17-19 2011 Russian Arctic Expedition

Arctic Sun MLAE-2011 Russian Arctic Expedition

Vladimir Obihod Arctic Explorer



Polar Bear tracks in the Arctic




Russian Arctic Expedition MLAE-2011, Arctic Explorers Vasiliy Elagin, Vladimir Obihod, Afanasiy Makovnev, Sergey Isaev, Andrei Van'kov, Aleksei Zaicev, North pole expedition, Driving to the North Pole



Arctic Polynyas, Thin Ice Yemelya Vehicles in water Russian Arctic Expedition

Kara Sea Arctic Ridges MLAE-2011, Russian Arctic Exploration, Russian Arcitic Expedition

April 16th 2011

Getting through to Severnaya Zemlya has been quite something else. Not since the Pobeda Peak have I had to work this hard. The “warm” Kara Sea apparently had no intent of letting us leave it. Though it is starting to seem as though we are finally parting. I will never forget this pond, though. The view outside is beyond what Roerich could have dreamed up. A pastel-like sunrise, day-night. Outside is bright, ridges, icebergs, shore. We think to reach Golomyanniy Island by tomorrow night. The shore ice belt is solid. Although, every time we begin to dream is exactly when s@#%* happens. We shall try, though. Wind is moderate, inside the vehicles it is warm and in our sleeping bags – even warmer. Overall everything is great.

Sergey Isaev

Translated from Russian by Ilya Kovalev 

April 8 2011

Apr 8

I’ll keep it short today due to tiredness. The ice floe itself has drifter off, leaving us on the shore ice belt by 0430 hours on Sivash. A large bearded seal watched us as if wondering: “what are they doing wondering around here?” And we would be happy to leave ourselves, yet the Kara Sea has got a hold of us and does not let go. While our avant-garde went to off to check the ice situation around, we did a complete inventory of everything: ropes, diesel, manhood and humor. From the looks of it we are still doing alright.

Vasily Elagin. 

Translated from Russian by Ilya Kovalev 

Russian Atomic Icebreaker Taimyr in The Arctic Ocean MLAE-2011 Arctic Expedition

March 14^th

The expedition proceeds along on the ice of Yenisei River. We bought 70 kilos of Sig fish in Karaul village. Karaul – ancient village founded in 1616 as a guard post. A winter hideout for travelers and traders at first, it later becomes home to settlers.  Prominent Arctic explorer – F. Nansen describes Karaul of early 19^th century, in his “Into the country of Future” : “This is an important fish trade hub of the Yenisey River and belongs to a rich merchant from the city of Krasnoyarsk. There is fairly large and substantially build house in it and overall it is a large modern village.” 
Translated from Russian by Ilya Kovalev 

March 10th 2011 Enisey River

Between March 4^th and 9^th the expedition traveled close to a thousand kilometers on the Vankor-Neft’ ice road and reached Dudinka.  The vehicles traveled on the ice road at the speeds of 10-15km/h, covering up to 200 km daily. The ice-road runs over the frozen waters of Enisey River. The Hydro dam in Krasnoyarsk had recently been drained and under the snow of the ice road, we encountered water, which did not, however impede our progress, as the light weight of Yemelyas spread over the large surface area of their soft tires prevented them from sinking through the snow, as the large and heavier Ural trucks, which were stranded waiting for this water to freeze, before they could continue along the ice road. In Dudinka the expedition was greeted by the head of the regional headquarters of “Nornikel”. The good man – Igor Borisovish Uzdin. Both “Yemelyas” were parked in heated garage and the crew – on board of the ice breaker ship “Dudinka”. Today, March 10^th we are repairing one the shafts of the rear axle on “Yemelya-4” and treating two of our young mechanics – Andrei Vankov and Aleksey Zaitcev, both of whom caught cold. For our more experienced adventurers and athletes Vasily Elagin, Vladimir Obihod, Sergey Isaev and Vladimir Yanochkin, the process off acclimatization to the harsh Siberian temperatures seems to have gone over easier. Afanasiy Makovnev is still waiting for our passports with Canadian visas while maintaining correspondence with communications officer for the Canada Border Services Agency - Stephen Hoyt.

Translated from Russian by Ilya Kovalev 

The Crew 2011

VASILY ELAGIN

The organizer and expedition leader of the MLAE-2008, MLAE-2009 and MLAE-2011 expeditions. He is also the engineer, designer and builder of the “Emelya” amphibious vehicles. Geologist, race driver and a participant of Paris-Dakar rally he is a Decorated Master of Sport of the USSR, bears the title of the International Class Master of Sport in alpine climbing, achieved the title of “Snow Leopard”

Traversed Kangchenjunga, ascended Mount Everest, Cho Oyu, Aconcagua, Mount Vinson and has been decorated with the Medal of The Red Labor Flag.

VLADIMIR OBIHOD

Driver-engineer, ice reconnaissance specialist. Holds the title of the International class master of Sport in alpine climbing, has been awarded the title of the “Snow Leopard”, twice. Completed complex vertical wall ascends on Khan Tengri, ascended The Peak of Communism, Annapurna, Lhotse and the Mount Everest. Participated in the MLAE-2008 expedition.

AFANASIY MAKOVNEV

Second in command of the MLAE-2009 and MLAE-2008 expeditions. Photographer and videographer. Mountaineer, speleologist, alpine skier, polar traveler, yachtsman, sea hunter, organizer of ethnographic discovery and adventure journeys in dog sleds and leather built canoes through Chukotka, Kamchatka and Alaska.

ANDREI VAN'KOV

Driver- mechanic. DOB: June 17 1979

ALEKSEY ZAYTCEV

Driver-mechanic. DOB: Nov 10 1983

VLADIMIR YANOCHKINDOB: Oct 30 1951. Alpine Climbing International Level Master of Sport

SERGEY ISAEV

DOB: Apr 03 1957. Alpine Climbing International Level Master of Sport.

"Yemelya" VEHICLES Specs design and data. Yemelya Arctic Vehicles by Vasily Elagin

Translated from Russian by Ilya Kovalev 


“Yemelya” – Is an amphibious vehicle

designed for transportation over ice floes and thin ice of the Arctic Ocean.

Its six wheels are dressed with special low pressure tires inflated to the mere 0.7 bar.

The gross vehicle weight is under 1,5 tons while the total water displacement of the six inflated tires constitutes 5 tons resulting in the very shallow draft of the vehicle body in water - just 10 centimeters.

Despite the large profile and windage characteristics of vehicle’s body, its spinning wheels are capable of propelling it at the speed of 2-3 km/h on the open water.

The vehicle tows two single-axel trailers each loaded with 200 L fuel barrel and six plastic containers for food and gear.

Inside of its aluminum body, which also performs the function of vehicle’s frame, “Yemelya’s” drive train uses an engine from a Toyota front wheel driven passenger car for its powerhouse. Two driveshafts of the engine deliver torque to the locking differentials of the front and middle axles. The rear differential can also be locked and is driven by chain drive and a driveshaft from the middle axle.

Driveshafts of all wheels have through-body construction and use seals at the entry points.

The engine, transmission and the electrical components of the drive train are all located completely on the inside of the sealed, watertight body, allowing “Yemelya”  to feel quite comfortable in salty sea waters.

Wheel drums are mounted on separate levers of vehicle’s independent suspension with a free travel of 450 mm. Mechanical winch in the front of “Yemelya” is driven by the main engine power through a separate clutch mechanism. Mechanical winch design is the most reliable and it is not susceptible to overheating and ice build up inside of its components resulting from condensation of water vapors, common with the electric winches.

Battery terminals are extended to the outside of the vehicle’s body allowing them to be connected in-line for welding.

Snow melting containers are located in specially designed pockets near muffler of the exhaust system.

On the inside, “Yemelya” is a spacious, well insulated transport capable of accommodating Arctic travelers for extended periods of time with safety and comfort.

Translated from Russian by Ilya Kovalev

About The Arctic Expedition MLAE-2011




Expedition Flag

MLAE-2011 Expedition Shevron
From Russian Arctic to Canadian Arctic

 

EXPEDITION OBJECTIVES ARE:

Reaching the North Pole

Field testing amphibious 

"Yemelya" vehicles.

It is, also, our hope that the expedition will help to instigate and maintain the dialogue and cooperation in research and development of the Arctic between the two Nations over the territories of which its course lay.

MLAE-2011 expedition has been organized by the
Russian Center For Arctic Exploration and is carried out under the patronage of the Special Representative of the President of Russian Federation In International Cooperation In The Arctic and the first vice-president of the Russian Geographic Society A.N. Chilingradov. The expedition is currently traversing the ice of the Arctic Ocean under the flag of Russian Geographic Society. Upon reaching the North Pole, the expedition will head south to Canada and is expected to wrap up in Resolute (Qasuittuq), in the Canadian territory of Nunavut, around June 15, 2011

The expeditionary crew is traveling in two custom built amphibious vehicles “Yemelya-1” and “Yemelya-2” following the route:



MLAE-2011 Route Map

Urengoy – Dudinka – Dickson – Ostrov Sredniy – ice base Borneo -  The North Pole – Ward Hunt, Canada – Resolute (Qasuittuq), Nunavut.

Vasiliy Elagin Expedition Chief

The crew list of Marine Live-ice Automobile Expedition 2011 (Short Biographies here)

           №        Name                                Title

1.      Vasily Elagin…………………………expeditionary chief

2.      Afanassi Makovnev………………….2^nd in command

3.      Vladimir Obihod…….........................driver-engineer        

4.       Andrey Vankov……..........................driver-engineer        

5.      Alexey Zaitsev…………………….....driver-engineer       

6.      Vladimir Yanochkin…..........................driver-engineer        

7.      Sergey Isaev……….............................driver-engineer

In 2009 Marine Live-ice Automobile

Expedition successfully traversed 2033 kilometers of the Arctic waters and ice between Ostrov Sredniy island of Severnaya Zemlya archipelago and The North Pole. The route took 38 days between 20th of March and the 26th of April 2009. The expedition was carried out under the patronage of Russian President’s Special Representative for The International Cooperation in The Arctic and The Antarctic A.N. Chilingradov. The support and safety monitoring of the expedition and the crew was provided by the aviation department of Federal Security Bureau. Expedition was headed by the decorated Master of Sport V.I. Yelagin. Expeditionary crew consisted of seven people. Vehicles used to traverse the ice and water en-route were two custom designed and built vehicles “Yemelya-1” and “Yemelya-2” with three axels and 6x6 wheel drive equipped with diesel engines, low pressure tires and cargo trailers.

Translated from Russian by Ilya Kovalev