The M-54 highway runs from Krasnoyarsk about 850 km through Abakan to Kyzyl in Tuva on the other side of the
Sayan Mountain range. My brother-in-law Valerie trucks coal across those mountains summer and winter. Tanya and I traveled the road from Abakan to Kyzyl in June 2006 and there was still snow on the high passes. Beautiful country but not one I would care to drive a semi truck over in mid winter.
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| Doesn't look far on a map |
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| Valerie's Scania and coal trailer |
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| This is early June 2006, a late spring |
The video is the Sayan Mountain road in winter. Be glad you don't have to drive it for a living. Valerie is a good driver and makes pretty good money for that part of the world.
From the video it looks like a pretty busy highway. In a snow storm they could be stuck there for a while. Are there any stops along the way or 850 km to the next service station?
ReplyDeleteNot a pastime that I would enjoy at all. I don't like big trucks, and I'm not fond of heavy snow on roads. I suppose that if one grew up with this, one would be accustomed to it. But for a Bear, snow means sleep.
ReplyDeleteFrom Krasnoyarsk to Abakan the highway is just a regular highway with several truck stops and towns along the way. From Abakhan to Kyzyl, there are few towns and few truck stops but they do exist.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how one would ever get used to driving in that kind of snow country.
I agree with you on the "snow means sleep." But, what an exciting job if you're younger, and what absolutely beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteEarly June 2006, all I can picture is an avalanche on top of the two of you. *Achoo!*
ReplyDeleteFantastic video: reminds me of the Dalton Highway (Houl Road) between Fairbanks and Prudhoe Bay in Alaska.
ReplyDeletethe Ol'Buzzard
Beautiful country, the scenery is alot like B.C. Enjoyed the video, perfect music for it too.
ReplyDeleteIt is beautiful country. You mean there are more bad highways than just in Russia?
ReplyDelete