Afternoon Fewbie Plus Desert Drive - Escape from Isengard - Faqa to Solar Park - Dubai - 28 Jul 2023

[Ale Vallecchi]

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the information below and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquette, and responsibilities.

MUST READ AND COMPLY

• Environmental Policy
• Offroad Flag Guideline
• Two Way Radio Guideline
• Off road Driving Etiquette's
• Emergency details for all off-roaders
• Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilities

 

Drive Details

Level:  Fewbie Plus and above (all levels)

Meeting time: 3:30 PM (SHARP - Without any exceptions)

Meeting Point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/cRDSWUBTXBGPQ5wv9

Action Plan: Continuing in the tradition of Tolkien inspired drives, after last week's excursion through the gap between Fangorn Forest (of Ghaf trees) and the Misty Mountain (of solar mirrors), and around Isengard (the solar tower's Eye of Sauron), this time we will enter the depths of the forest, to trace our way back, entering from the Gap of Rohan (Faqa's northern sabkha, just south of the solar tower) and taking the path leading back to safety, in the vicinity of the Innovation Center. If possible, an even more challenging technical route, with soft sand everywhere, including the ridges and bottom of the low but very close and complex array of dunes and bowls, which we'll cross from the slip-face, throughout the drive. We'll be aallowing ourselves not more than 3 hours to escape Isengard through the forest of Ghaf trees, or else......

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), smiles, face mask, rubber gloves, enthusiasm and willingness to learn.

Approximate finish time: 06:30 PM

P.S. Only join if you have a compressor to inflate your tires after the drive.

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE:

• Limited to 10 cars maximum. RSVP will close on Wednesday - 5 PM.
  • 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.
• Members that do not confirm the terms of the COVID requirements will be removed from the RSVP list.
• 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 below calendar

 

[Ale Vallecchi]

As we drove to Isengard via the gap between the "forest" and the "mountains", we will drive out of Isengard keeping further east, through the "forest" of Ghaf trees. 😉

 Sauron will keep a watchful eye on us from the top of its Solar Tower. 

[Beide Worku]

Hi @Ale Vallecchi removing myself as my car won’t make it out of the garage in time. You guys enjoy. 

[Ale Vallecchi]

Dear @BIBIN THOMAS. Thanks a lot for signing up, and congrats on your promotion. Unfortunately, this drive is actually a Fewbie Plus drive, which is one level above yours. So, I regret to have to sign you off of this drive. I hope you can find a spot in another drive this weekend. Thanks for understanding.

[Ale Vallecchi]

Dear Desertnauts,

a few updates about tomorrow's drive. 

The meeting point has been published. Unfortunately, I have not found the shred of a shady spot in the area, so we'll have to arrive, deflate, and wait to leave in the comfort of our cars. Let's try to be timely, and quick in setting up. 

We plan to take a shortcut while driving up, away from Faqa, and around Isengard, staying as close as possible to the Eye of Sauron. Once we reach the northern border of its enclosure, we'll head west, across an endless field of technical dunes, across the "forest" of Ghaf trees that lies just to the right of our path. We plan to exit the treacherous area in time to enjoy the sunset.

The short convoy will line up as follows:

@Fabien Monleau in Second Lead

@Stumpy Paj at #3

@Bashar Beasha at #4

@salah2u in Sweep.

As usual, the radio channel will be chosen on the spot.

Get ready to start the weekend in the desert. Enjoy the end of the week.

[Stumpy]

Sorry @Ale Vallecchi have to remove myself, can’t make it this afternoon 

[Ale Vallecchi]

Congratulations to @Fabien Monleau, @Bashar Beasha and @salah2u for completing the most technical drive I ever managed to lead. From start to finish, all 40 kilometers, except perhaps the last few hundred meters prior to the exit, nothing else but tight dunes and very soft, powdery sand. 

Great concentration throughout the two toughest stretches. Just a couple of tricky spots produced a total of 4 tugs, twice with double ropes to allow pulling from the most advantages place.

One key take away has been the need to find the optimal, most effective deflation point, to suite the warm hours and the super soft surface (somewhere around 10 PSI or a bit below, based on your type of tires).

One more footnote: in the end, the track, navigated mostly without maps, using visual landmarks, ended up matching the drawing of Isengard posted with the drive (The Eye of Sauron marked by the white Waypoint).

[Bashar Beasha]

Thank you @Ale Vallecchi

I reached home with little to no energy 😃

it was a fantastic drive

[Fabien Monleau]

What to add to @Ale Vallecchipost ? After a month of break, back in Al Faqa… Heat and soft sand we’re waiting for us under the watch of Sauron… 

Deflete, deflete and deflete again to get the right grip… But defletion did not avoid to get stucked… Every recovery consuming your energy left… 

Happy to be back home… A big thanks to @Ale Vallecchifor his great lead, in this very challenging terrain…

Very nice to drive with @Bashar Beashaand @salah2u

I wish you a nice week

I hope to drive with you again next weekend 😉