Severe frosts, tundra, wild animals. Citizens from Poland went to the Polar Circle

From Gdansk by Russian car “GAZelle” four citizens of Poland went to travel to the Polar Circle. They are planning to reach Vorkuta in a week, and then Salekhard, overcoming thousands of kilometers in frosts. The expedition includes a retired military programmer Dariusz Obst, an employee of the car company Łukasz Kilichowski, an owner of an auto repair shop Jacek Kędzierski and the head of the group, a specialist in molecular biotechnology Michał Rychłowski. 

For the trip they chose the Russian four-wheel drive car “GAZelle” of 2011 year of release, which cost them only 8000 zlotys or about 1900 euro. In Gdansk in a garage “GAZelle” was remade. The travelers installed low-pressure tires and an autonomous power supply designed from a chain saw, which is connected with an automobile generator instead of a circuit. Previously they traveled in two off-road vehicles, now they decided to move by one car. They prepared for all possible scenarios.
They say that these cars leave the plant already faulty a little, but they have one huge advantage: in Russia they are very popular, so in a case of a breakdown, it will be easy to find spare parts, as the scientist explains.
Before leaving for the travel the group had to stock up warm clothes: wool sweaters, fleece hoodies, down jackets and ski pants keeping the warmth well. They had to choose boots 2-3 sizes bigger to wear thick socks.
The travelers are attracted to “abnormal” routes. This time they went on a journey four together, although their company of fans of unusual travels consists of 20 people. They visited Ukraine, Romania, Bosnia, Belarus, Baltic States, South America and Mongolia, where fulfilled a part of the way on the Trans-Siberian Railway. All the places they visited are unified with the fact that there are few tourists, therefore, all trips, according to Michał Rychłowski, are tests or even survival in extreme conditions.
Vorkuta was chosen not by chance, it is the place of exile of Polish citizens, who worked in camps, mining, in particular, coal. The travelers have already visited this town in 2016. On the winter road along the railway line they have to drive about 800 kilometers.
The members of the team “By “GAZelle” around the world” explain the choice of the route as follows: in those parts they are considered not tourists but travelers. Local people are interested in where they came from, everyone wants to help, suggests to eat something tasty. Therefore the travelers always take traditional Polish products (honey, sweets, drinks) with themselves in order to make presents in respond, as inosmi.ru informs.
During the previous trip on their way to Salekhard the team met two men in clothes made of skins, they spoke in Russian with an unusual accent. They were Nenets people — representatives of indigenous ethnic minorities living in the North of Russia, who are compared often with Inuit people.
“We realized that their snowmobile had broken the engine, help could come only in three days. We agreed to help them. The repair took all night, but we managed to start the engine. They wanted to thank us and gave us venison. They met us in the agreed place by snowmobiles and took us to their nomadic camp next day”, as Michał Rychłowski told.
The citizens from Poland stayed in choums (tents made of reindeer hides, dwelling of nomads) and were treated like the best friends. Nenets people just celebrated the wedding, so they had a lot of local delicacies and unusual dishes. It was incredibly interesting, thus, the travelers want to visit Nenets people again and then to go to Salekhard. They will spend two weeks in “GAZelle” and then will leave it in Russia and will come back to Poland by plane or train.
Next time the travelers plan to fly by plane to a place, where the car will remain, and then to go further. The plans include Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, China, India or maybe Russia again.
“It may surprise someone, but Russians are very nice people. Usually they try not to deal with political issues and say “politicians always quarreled, and ordinary people were able to understand each other”. Those people, who are traveling to Russia, often hear such words”, as Michał Rychłowski said.
The team leader adds that three weeks full of hard trials are waiting for them. The travel is not only pleasant meetings but also dangers: severe frosts, tundra, wild animals. However, the head of the expedition is optimistic: “We like if something happens on the trip. After all, if everything goes according to the plan, it becomes boring, and there is no chance to meet interesting people. Everyone should experience it at least once in life”.