Snow Leopard Expedition - Russia, Siberia & Kazakhstan - July 2013

I've been chatting to a friend of mine called Tony Pritchard. We go back a fair ol' way now (about 1988 I think??? whilst leading up to my Paris-Dakar Rally attempt in 1989) so you could say we know each other fairly well by now. In fact he was Editor of the newly-launched 4x4 & Off-Road Mart magazine back in the 90's where I had a regular column for some five years - apart from his own contributions mine was the only editorial in the mag, sometimes up to 8 pages in total. Happy days! He went on to launch his own off-road publication called 4x4 Enthusiast, which subsequently got bought out by Total Off Road I believe, so yes the man has plenty of 4x4 experience under his belt. Even better, he's a throughly nice bloke ... one of the 'good guys'!

Anyway, for a while now he's been talking about running an 'Aidventure' expedition to Russia (he heads a charitable project called Aidventure in which he'll take badly needed supplies over to Romanian ophanages and suchlike) and has come up with the following cunning plan:-

Entitled the "Snow Leopard Expedition" the intention is undertake research/photography on the endanged Snow Leopard - how the animals impact of the lives of locals, its deminishing habitat, etc. - whilst raising funds for the registered charity The Foundation for Endangered Species ( www.ffes.org.uk )



Guess what ... I've decided to join him! I also want to continue down into Mongolia after the official expedition, but as always the old bank balance may have an overiding say in this; we'll see. The thought of driving in places like this are all too tempting.



According to the website: There are three crews “signed up”, so we only have room for another three crews, so don’t hang about!

Fancy joining us? See www.overlandtravel.org.uk/snow-leopard-expedition for details.

What motor will you be useing Tom, will you have your camper by then,

We are considering this, has well as raising mooey for the charity, I take it you have to arrange all your own, traviling expencess.

Good stuff!!!

Yep, its down to a bit of fund-raising for the charity, or, as there is not an entry fee as such, regard a donation to the charity as your entry fee ... if you see what I mean.

Yep also to the expenses part. I fully intend to RR ambulance to be a fully-functioning camper by then, but as usual it's all down to cash between now and then. If I still have it by then, I've always got the Delica to fall back on.

Tom Mc wrote:

Good stuff!!!

If I still have it by then, I've always got the Delica to fall back on.

Still no photos of said Delica yet.

Darn, should have popped out a couple of days ago when it had a couple of inches of snow, it looked pretty. Ahhhhh!!!!

Still not officially mine yet, so I'll wait until I decide what to do with it. Basically it's the more morern model, the one with the more rounded snout.

use the delica,,,,so comfy for the longer trips,,,,,took my first one to the top of sweden when i did the swedish off road tour,,,then took my second one to morocco and slept in it,,,now i have the old delica back i am taking it on a 16 day trip next month,, ,,,mate you just cant beat them,,,,so under rated,,,,,

first two are of the chamonix i took to sweden and the jasper is the one i have just bought back,,,, ,

Tom Mc wrote:

Darn, should have popped out a couple of days ago when it had a couple of inches of snow, it looked pretty. Ahhhhh!!!!

Still not officially mine yet, so I'll wait until I decide what to do with it. Basically it's the more morern model, the one with the more rounded snout.

Seen the one you mean, in the Delica forum, have to admit we have been looking at them for a while now, after seeing what people have done with thiers.

One reason, like tuggy says about getting on in years, and climbing up on top of motors, arearthritus(spell) is taking its toll, and puting up and taking down our camp beds, is a bit slower now, still eaiser to put oztent up, but it is the outher things.

So looking to get something a bit easier, we have slept in the D3, but that has to go next year. And D1 not enough room, many years ago we had a Commer camper van, so the camper Delica with 4x4 sounds good.

all they are is a mitsubishi shogun but with a forward type body giving you a lot moor room in the cab its an MPV,,,,2.8td auto excellent combination ,,,,,

If you have the money you could see if they could fit this into a Delica

http://uk.autoblog.com/2012/02/10/video-amazing-sliding-pod-for-vw-camper-emerges/?a_dgi=aolshare_facebook

A very neat idea, a home-made version for the Range Rover-soon-to-be camper could be interesting.

As for the Delica, I reckon that could well be the answer to your problem mate. You and 'she who must be obeyed' would be snug as a bug in a rug in one of those. They drive like car, go like s*** off a shovel, and have a ready-made bed on board. Start looking!

Hideous,,,,,,

May be interested in this one

RLD wrote:

May be interested in this one

What - the slidey out thing or the Snow Leopard Expedition?

Snow leopard thingy just waiting for reply of my travel matey

Wey hey, fingers crossed!

just sent the TEX

Also sent txt today.

nice one

Had a call from Tony today, so looking good, just need to sort a motor.

so did i seems i know his son very well Rob

on the list

Good stuff! Oooeerrr, guess I'd better sort a motor too!

well it will be the 130 the mother ship i have asked Jason my mate to come along he is a Films location manager but he is away filming down London at the moment so will have to see it's a long time off at the moment but i am up for it Ron Tony' son went to Poland with him 2003 so know him well also did a few other trips in wales with him he is in Russia living there which will be a big help now somthig to look forwards to

130's are great, excellent off-road.