COVID19 Compliant - Afternoon Intermediate Desert Drive - Qudra to Ganthoot (Criss-crossing Heaven) - Dubai - 12 May 2021

[Ale Vallecchi]

This drive is organized in full compliance with the COVID19 guidelines. We expect every member that joins this drive to go through below information and strictly follow these guidelines in order not to jeopardize someone's health, and to ensure we can keep organizing these drives safely.

 

MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: COVID19 Precautions

 

MUST READ AND TOTALLY AGREE: BAN POST

 

Two Way Radio Guidelines

• Every Off-roader brings his own radio, programmed to the frequencies described in below advice topic.
• We will not share spare radios or program your radio on the drive. If you need assistance in programming the radio, post a topic on the Carnity website with your questions and we will help you out. 
• Make sure your radio is fully charged. It will be your only way of communication while driving.
• Before buying, please carefully read below advice so you are informed properly on which model / cost / shops...
• No radio = No drive. It is an essential tool and you should make sure you bring it on every drive and learn/practice how to use it.

 

Drive Details

Level:  Intermediate Level and Above

When:  12 May 2021, Wednesday.

Meeting time: 3:00 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions)

Action Plan: The western side of Qudra, running along the Saya as Salm Road (joining Qudra's Last Exit to the E75, is an almost uninterrupted field of long range dunes, lined up generally in a West to East direction. This area, starting from close to the Last Exit, through the usually driven part of Qudra (to the Solar Park's pylons, and beyond, all the way to the outskirts of Ganthoot, offers an endless criss-crossing paradise. While we have driven these tracks before (more the former, and much less the latter) in a few exploration drives (at different levels), this time we'll look to combine them in a long exercise in crossing ridges. Instead of returning to Qudra, this time we'll exit at the western-most side of the Saya as Salm Road, through a final area of technical dunes.

Meeting Point: FOLLOW GOOGLE MAPS TO THIS FIRST LINK:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/iNVP9yN1g4ZAwdyq5

This is where you need to exit the roundabout to proceed on the dirt track to your right, to reach the deflation point, located at:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/pQQcfvkjFGkVFyEH8 (click this link after reaching the roundabout to access the meeting point).

Type of Car: Any proper 4x4 with front and back tow hooks and 8-10 inches of ground clearance.

What to bring along: Loads of water, snacks (for yourself), face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: 7:00PM

THIS IS A COMPRESSOR ONLY DRIVE. WE WILL STARTING AND ENDING THE DRIVE AT THE SAME POINT, WHICH IS NOT CLOSE TO AN AIR LINE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A COMPRESSOR, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS DRIVE. IF YOU ARRIVE AND HAVE NO COMPRESSOR YOU WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO JOIN THE DRIVE. 

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE:

• Limited to 8 Intermediates and above drivers. RSVP will close on Monday - 9 AM.
  • If the RSVP is full and you wish to join, please mention your name on the drive thread to add on the waiting list. 
• Latecomers will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS.
• Members without RSVP will be returned back - without ANY EXCEPTIONS.
• Please withdraw your RSVP, if you aren't joining, so your spot can be taken by others.
• Repeated no-show members after RSVP will have their account suspended for a month.
   

PLEASE RSVP ON THE BELOW CALENDAR 

 

[Mario Cornejo]

@Ale Vallecchi - looking forward to this drive.  Just out of curiosity, where approximately will we be exiting?

[Ale Vallecchi]

7 minutes ago, Mario Cornejo said:

@Ale Vallecchi - looking forward to this drive.  Just out of curiosity, where approximately will we be exiting?

Hi @Mario Cornejo. Likely on the road that will lead back to Qudra, west of the pylons, close to Ganthoot. 

[Mario Cornejo]

1 hour ago, Ale Vallecchi said:

Hi @Mario Cornejo. Likely on the road that will lead back to Qudra, west of the pylons, close to Ganthoot. 

Noted, thank you Ale.

[Ale Vallecchi]

Dear Desertnauts.

@Thomas Varghese, @imranaasghar81, @GauravSoni, @Mario Cornejo, @varunmehndiratta, @amir amiri, @Arda Yagcioglu and @N@ved, welcome to this drive.

This Wednesday we'll be joining two itineraries - Western Qudra's long range dunes, and the Ganthoot drive - to create an almost seamless playing field, where criss-crossing will be the main dish on the menu.

Conditions will vary slightly between the two segments, with longer, wider cordons during most of the first one, and closer, more bowl-like dunes in the second half of the drive. In between, a couple of technical dune fields, including one close to the planned exit point.

The convoy is expected to move as smoothly as possible, concentrating on choosing the right angles to approach the crests, ride them as permitted by their length and smoothness (or lack of), and exit safely on the other side. Most of the approaches will be from the hard-face, as we'll progress following the wind's prevailing direction.

Convoy order will be out tomorrow, but, as already done before in the case of IM drives, each driver will be responsible for supporting the recoveries of the car just in front or behind his own. 

Last minute info tomorrow. Have a great day.

 

 

[Ale Vallecchi]

Dear Desertnauts.

Last info for tomorrow's PM drive. 

Meeting point: the actual meeting and deflation point is, strangely, marked wrongly on Google Maps. That's why you should follow Google Map's directions to reach the first link posted, which is just off the first roundabout after Qudra's Last Exit, on the road to Bab al Shams. Only after exiting the roundabout you can reach the actual meeting point (second map's link), through a dirt track just to the right of the track leading to the "villa"'s guarded gate. 

Deflation: please deflate between 10 and 11 PSI's, or as much as your tires will allow, as the hot PM's temperatures will make the sand quite soft and shifty, especially early on in the drive.

Convoy order:

@Thomas Varghese in SL

@imranaasghar81 at #3

@Arda Yagcioglu will be #4

@N@ved #5

@Yousef Alimadadi will be Center Forward

@GauravSoni at #7

@amir amiri in place #8

@varunmehndiratta at #9, and 

@Mario Cornejo will Sweep.

As mentioned, at this IM and above level, I'd like each driver to be responsible for assisting in recoveries the car either immediately in front or behind (depending on which driver will be better positioned). This will ensure that everybody is exposed to recovery techniques.

Bring a full tank, water to drink, snacks to enjoy, and your determination to safely practice criss-crossing.

See you tomorrow, and Eid Mubarak to all.

 

[Varun Mehndiratta]

@Ale Vallecchi you know the art of making something interesting even better.....following a Ram on long range Qudra dunes, I am looking forward for the fun...😀

Edited May 11, 2021 by varunmehndiratta

[Francois Germishuys]

@Ale Vallecchiis there still a spot open for me? Add me please. Thanks 

[Ale Vallecchi]

38 minutes ago, Francois Germishuys said:

@Ale Vallecchiis there still a spot open for me? Add me please. Thanks 

Hi @Francois Germishuys. Yes there is. Please let me know if you wish to confirm. Thanks

[Francois Germishuys]

@Ale Vallecchi yea im in! Thanks