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Carnity members trying to RSVP at 7PM:

Thank you @Frederic for the great idea. It'll keep all of us at Carnity motivated and curious, as well as providing an even greater sense of community. I am greatly honored to be "inducted" into 2 categories for this term. I always have fun planning the drives and will take up the challenge of being even more creative in the future. Congrats to my fellow inductees @Bjoern, @Tharun Kumar V, @Santoso Marjuki, @JeromeFJ, @Davie Chase, @DP1011, and @Benjamin . Well done to all !!!

First of all, yes ..... I am still alive. Simply, I had not expected to have such hectic days, so packed, and going through relatively remote areas, that I would not have time to recount the events of the day. Now that I am finally back, I have the time to relive, with you, the highlights of the past days. Day 4 - Al Hait - Al Ula (537 Km) A sunny start of the day saw us driving across a huge field of lava stones, clearly announcing the approaching of a significant group of volcanoes, strung along a semi-circle, just a few kilometers off a secondary road to Al Ula. As the stones turned to gravel, under the effect of prolonged erosion, the plains at the foot of this ring of volcanoes revealed itself, reddish black as the color of lava, and stunningly green as the color of the thin grass that carpeted the valley, after the heavy rains. After a coffee break on the lush yet barren plain, we launched on a 60 Km. off-road exploration of the volcanos. As we were driving in a clockwise direction around the edges of what appeared as different lava flows, we realized that the lava was actually all part of a giant eruption, that may have lasted years, if not decades, coming from the tall black volcano looming to our right. The goal was to reach and climb the most "advertised" site in this area, the so called "White Mountain", which we reached just as the black crusts of lava ended at its base. It was indeed a whiteish looking mountain, with a flat top, and no lava whatsoever either on its slopes or near its base. As we climbed to the top of the plateau, we actually landed on the rim of what appeared as a volcanic crater, with a small hilly outcrop at its center. The color of the rocks was white with pink hues, in stark contrast with the black mountains surrounding this site. A closer, even though hasty, analysis of the mountain's material and layout of its visible layers, completely devoid of any volcanic origin, led to the conclusion that this must have actually been an impact crater, pre-dating the volcanic activity which laid at its feet, in relatively more recent times, the huge lava field we had just crossed, originated from the huge black volcano. Done with the geological survey, we proceeded to complete the drive of the entire rim of this incredible White Mountain, drawing a perfectly circular track on the map, before descending its slopes, and crossing, once again, the huge black lava field. Just before exiting on the original dirt track, we detoured toward a gap between two tall hills, where we found a beautiful herd of black camels enjoying the fresh green grass, pasturing on the rims of another beautiful, smaller, crater, hidden from the view from below. Another spectacular site, with an unspoiled, almost pre-historic look and feel. Back on the main road, just in time to avoid yet another burst of rainfall, we headed toward Al Ula, a couple hundred kilometers away. After refueling, having noticed the first signs of the red, boulder shaped, outcrops that have made this area famous (actually, common to a great deal of the vast expanse from here to Wadi Rum in Jordan), we detoured, to enter one of its canyons, beginning what turned out to be almost 100 Kms of off roading, along the wadis and small valleys separating the broken massif. Having spent the last part of the afternoon off-roading just south-east of Al Ula, we reached our destination well after sunset. Another day full of surprises, the highlight of which (and with hindsight, perhaps of the whole trip) was the huge black volcano's immense lava flow spreading its wings and hugging the base of the incredible White Mountain. An unreal testimonial of ancient times of upheaval and dramatic change, and a stunning reminder of Mother Earth's immense power.

Great topic @Looper and i knew when i took up this issue with you that you were gonna be prepared I find the folder structure GaiaGPS uses a bit awkward and many hardcore GaiaGPS users are now stepping over to Caltopo, which i've been testing for a while now and really impressed by their web browser are route planning, but the mobile version is not yet up to the mark in my opinion. Anyways, what i do is make a folder for each emirate, and then put my tracks in that folder based on where i've driven. That way i can export for example that entire folder (Dubai by example) into one single .gpx file (including all the waypoints associated with that). This method works well in Gaia, but whenever i import a track someone else had sent me, it creates its own folder, which i do not want, and have to move this folder into the folder of the right emirate. Colour coding of tracks is a good idea. I do not use any colour coding on my tracks, but i do for my waypoints: 1. Red waypoints are entry and exit points. 2. Yellow waypoints are landmarks. 3. Purple waypoints are bowls and play areas I also recommend to keep the "best" version of a certain area you have done, and delete or archive/hide all the rest. If not, within 1 year your Gaiagps app will look like a spiderweb and will become extremely frustrating to use while leading. Naming is also important. I use the following example: SHJ-Badayer-FB-FNU (Sharjah Emirate, Badayer Area,Fewbie Level,my name code) That way, if you use the alphabetic filter in Gaia, all your tracks from SHJ will be all nicely lined up.

Another amazing initiative @Carnity. Thank you @Frederic, it’s a surprise because on the Liwa Crossing you will not find my name on any of those 3 convoys 😅. I was only a passenger with @Dodi Syahdar as support team. Even I was not driving, I brought my own radio 🤣 and it was useful when @Srikumar’s radio low batt. So as a passenger of support car, I have nothing to do except shovelling and attaching the towing gears ✊😅, however I enjoyed and learned a lot from the conductor @Gaurav during the recovery. congratulations @Bjoern, @Tharun Kumar V, @Santoso Marjuki, @Ale Vallecchi, @JeromeFJ, @Davie Chase, @DP1011, and @Benjamin 👏👏👏

@M.Seidam I would love to join you but too early for me. Perhaps your medical certificate would help me:)) have a great fun and drive. I will miss you.

@Gaurav my boots were purchased from an American army surplus store in Houston Texas. advantages of these boots are full tongue so little to no sand gets in, even when knee deep during shoveling exercises. they have a real soft ankle so i can tie them tight but have ankle flxibility when walking/driving, and a thinish sole again great for throttle feel which of course enhances control. pictures below

Recently Gaia has been a regular topic of discussion, as I started to do partial leads. During these discussions, an issue that came up regularly is how the tracks become unmanageable and do not make any sense anymore, leading to users deleting their old tracks. I too found the same issue while I was still new, perhaps 10 to 15 drives old, and I was intermediate already! When I was driving in the same area there were multiple tracks in different colours, and nothing made sense. Since Fewbie level I have been organizing my recorded tracks and I want to share my housekeeping tricks in post in the hope that a few of you might find it helpful. 1. Start Early: If you start early to organise your drives and with a little bit of housekeeping from the start you can better manage the tracks in the future, and it does not become a big headache later. Even if you are not subscribed to the app, do record the tracks with the free version and save them. 2. Folders: Create folders for each level of drive, such as Newbie, Fewbie and so on. I have folders for other types of drives, e.g., drives with friends, wadi drives etc. After each drive while saving the track, immediately put the track in those folders while saving. Gaia also gives an option to add photos you took during the drive to attached. While I do it, I delete them (Profile>Photos) later as it leaves a bunch of waypoints that I don’t need. The photos seem to stay with the track even after deleting them. Saving tracks in folders makes it quite easy to hide/unhide (eye button in saved tab) a bunch of tracks at the same time. These days I hide all the tracks and keep the current plan visible. Any new drive you record will automatically be visible till you hide them. 3. Colour Coding: You can colour code all drives in a level with one colour. In my case I used the same colours that were used in my stats posts. I considered either colour coding or creating folders by Lead or Area instead of filing tracks by Level + color-coding them at the same time, because it seemed like duplication. But those options either did not add any value to me or the process made it more confusing for me. Your experience might vary. 4. Rename Tracks: Rename the track with the area you did the drive and the lead with who you drove in the title. I also put the participants' names in the notes section. This helps to find specific tracks by searching for them (use “Download guest list” in calendar to get text of all names). As a newbie lead, I go back to my most memorable drives from the past in an area to plan for the next drive. Some time I get to see a great track to drive and other times I take the convoy though a technical jungle; either way it is fun.

Well, I didn’t expect my simple question will produce so many great answers and ideas 🤩🙌 I visited the shop suggested by @Vanessa8580but they only have men size shoes 🥲🥲🥲

Hi Sand Sailors Thanks for RSVPing for the drive and your usual amazing response to the post . As @Frederic aptly described another Gone in 60sec opportunity 😀. @Beide Worku can’t help my friend,. These tiny bits keep me pumped up through my prep. We have a super solid convoy (tried and tested over last weeks) for a super awesome terrain. M all psyched and hope so are you - as it won’t take anything less to get through this place. So get your vehicles checked, ensure you are fully rested and sleep on time this Friday. @Benjamin ensure muscles are pumped and the shovel is sharp & ready and @Jaro Tuzinsky No drive for you without an upgraded phone holder 😀😀 For those on WL, still some time to go so stay put. @Felix Obst @Gary F @Benjamin @Mark B @Ahmad Nerat @Senthil Kumar @Ishak@Bashar Beasha @Patrick van der Loo @Bjoern @Sunil Mathew @Rajiv Sam @Krishna R @Jaro Tuzinsky

Don’t worry @Varun Mehndiratta my shovel was forged in the realms of alfheim! They actually call me Ace of spades😂 Looking forward to doing everything I can to support the convoy

@Jaro Tuzinsky let's have meeting in my office, need to discuss business😉. What about afternoon?

Would love to attend @M.Seidam unfortunately I don't get out of school early enough to make the meeting time 😄 enjoy the drive everyone it's gonna be a blast

Thanks Dr. @M.Seidam. always ready to join ur drives.. Just were out of service in Ramadan 😅. see u tomorrow inshallah

It’s ok @Ahmad Nerat your profile has been updated by carnity management. See you tomorrow inshallah . Be ready for a short blasting sprint 😅

Hello @Looper, I was upgraded last month to fewbie plus. check the bellow link @Carnity could u plz check my offroad rank let me know if I need to do anything else from my side

Oh no, that means I have men size feet 😂 I have a 41 so I guess your feet are much smaller than mine ?

Very good stuff, but dangerous to go😭.

@Mark B does your sub expire around 7pm ? Wonder if that could be changed. I haven’t had this issue in the past but have had refresh page issues that made a difference between being on /off the drive, now I’m at the stage when I can be available at 7pm Monday to watch the clock to the second and open a fresh page from the WhatsApp link to sign up.

@Looper are you talking about your tactical slides which you are using for driving

Hi @Marketa Dobesova I got my shoes in a shop called Tactical trading. It’s located on Sheikh Zayed road. https://maps.app.goo.gl/1z7TurUSYFTrrt6Z7?g_st=iw This is the location 😁

Yeah I get what you’re saying, it took 16 minutes to get it to work, when I first tried to add there were 7 people there and that was literally 10 seconds after it posted. That’s really nice of you mate but wouldn’t ask you to do that at all. it’s a glitch it’s one of those things, just annoyed me that’s all lol

@Frederic amazing initiative and extremely well chosen names to become members of the Hall of fame. They deserve it because they act as role models for all of us!

Day 2 - Al Bathaa to Edge of the World (685 Km) Let's start from the beginning of tomorrow (Day 3). A 6:00 am water up in a windstorm and 14 degrees, after a full night of rain. It felt we had punished for having reached the End of the World. A Martian landscape, of a miles long sharp cliff separating the central plateau of Arabia from the lower lands expanding from here to the Red Sea. Barely 68 km west of Riyad, yet 2 hours of driving away, End of the World is reached through 30 km M on a rocky dirt track. The excruciating drive, takes a heavy toll on the back and spine, but leaves you breathless once at the top (see picture). Everything else between Al Bathaa and here is quite insignificant, except a large dune field running along the highway not far from Riyad, which would warrant more time to explore (on the next trip). The camp was set at night on track back to the tarmac intersection, yesterday above a small wadi lined up with leafy trees. Food was served and enjoyed just on time for the arrival first of an electric storm, then of the heavy rains that were the sound track of the night, until the windy dawn.

This question is for @Vanessa8580 During Iftar drive I asked you where you got your 'off-road' shoes and then I forgot to get the location from you. Could you please share, thank you very much in advance 🙏.

Welcome to the Off-Road Hall of Fame, a place where we celebrate the fearless, daring, and ingenious legends of the off-road world. This is the home of the trendsetters who have pushed the limits of off-road driving, supporting, and inspiring all types of adventurers. Off-road driving is not just a hobby, it's a way of life. It requires a rare combination of skill, bravery, and respect for the great outdoors. From conquering the tallest dune to racing through the sands, and wadis to traversing long distances, off-roading comes in various forms that demand unique skills, patience and above all - great teamwork. Only a few have gone above and beyond, leaving their mark on the off-road universe, and inspiring others to follow in their footsteps. These heroes have not just driven off-road but have really defined the true meaning of off-road community while taking the sport to new heights. Whether you are an experienced off-roader or just starting, we invite you to join us as we explore the stories and legacies of the off-road greats who have earned their rightful place in the Off-Road Hall of Fame. This is a place where we take pride in their achievements and honor their spirit of adventure. So, fasten your seatbelts, hold tight, and let's embark on a journey of exhilaration, inspiration, and honor in the Off-Road Hall of Fame. Period: Jan - March 2023 Drives in the spotlight Our Master of Innovation, @Ale Vallecchi again surprised us with a perfect themed drive! Starting with a relaxing Newbie level drive, and ending with a professional Yoga session in Al Qudra, guided by Paola ! https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1x87v6muqc25j&utm_content=i0iff Keep innovating Ale! Members in the spotlight @Ishak @Bjoern @Tharun Kumar V and @Santoso Marjuki The support shown by these individuals during the broken-down car recovery in Liwa crossing has been nothing short of incredible. Their tireless efforts and unwavering commitment to helping their fellow off-roaders are truly inspiring. Their selflessness and willingness to go above and beyond did not go unnoticed. In fact, they even sacrificed their own plans for the day to ensure that their fellow off-roaders were taken care of. This level of camaraderie and support is what makes this off-roading community so special. We are all grateful for their presence and the invaluable support they have provided. Well done Ishak, Bjoern, Tharun and Santoso! @Benjamin It is truly remarkable to see how Benjamin has flourished as a passionate offroader with our club. Despite being one of the youngest members of our family, he has demonstrated a level of maturity and teamwork that is truly impressive. Benjamin's teamwork skills are beyond his years, and he consistently demonstrates a willingness to help and support his fellow offroaders in any way he can. We are fortunate to have Benjamin as a member of our offroading family. Keep it up, Benjamin! Lead Champions Congratulations @Ale Vallecchi for having organized 11 drives this quarter! 3 Newbie Drives 4 Fewbie Drives 4 Fewbie Plus Drives Congratulations @JeromeFJ for having organized 9 drives this quarter! 5 Fewbie Drives 2 Fewbie Plus Drives 2 Intermediate Drives Support Champions Congratulations @Davie Chasefor having supported 11 drives in this quarter! Congratulations @DP1011 , Deepak wrangler for having supported 8 drives this quarter! Your dedication is an admirable quality that is truly valued and appreciated. Your unwavering passion for off-roading has not gone unnoticed, and it is an inspiration to those around you today. We thank you and look forward to seeing the many great things you will achieve in the future.

I will bring some ladies to take care of my mobile:)))

You need to get a second shovel, one for each arm @Benjamin maximum efficiency.

I wear Danner’s Tachyon Coyote range. They are extremely soft, lightweight, come up to lower calf and easy to clean. They are so lightweight that I’ve worn them for hours on hikes without any blisters or break-in period. https://global.danner.com/productfamily/tachyon/ I bought them in-store in the US but I believe the Tactical Gear store on Sheikh Zayed Road also stocks them.

Personally i preferer Antarctica boots as they seal really well compared to Decathlon and others , but you the laces is really annoying , my top preference is the Auto lacing system boots which are note really easy to find

@munkybizness and @Davie Chase can u please share the images of your desert shoes please? I myself looking for something that is high ankle but with soft material at the ankle unlike boots so they are comfortable for driving while keeping the sand out. I have been happy with Timberland trekking shoes which are very comfy and high ankle but I lace them lower for free movement of the ankle and sand seeps in. So this time wanna explore if something exists that is sturdy but lightweight, high ankle but flexible. @Looper similar to those decathlon shoes, I tried military supply shoes decades ago from some specialized military supply shop in Sharjah. As they were made of hard canvas, so after a few drives canvas took a heavy toll with regular sandblasting.

The zipper one is not really a good option , as the sand gets in easily. But i have kept a pair in the trunk when i am feeling too lazy ( for short unplanned trips in the desert)..😂

Hey Gary No I paid a few days before so can’t be that, I was literally sat with my personal phone on Carnity and my work phone as a count down timer 😂 I was on there within seconds could see 7 on the drive already then 8,9 etc and the rest is history, same thing happened last time I paid too. But I’m over it now 😂 last night I was not impressed to say the least Maybe I’ll just do annual to save the headache

Thanks @Frederic and @Looper I have fallen victim to just recording drives without any organization or file name structure. and to think that I'm 'tech' orientated! planning to take an evening I'm not studying to siphon through all the recorded path's potentially just archive them to revisit whenever I happen to adventure out and start all over again, but this time actually using Gaia's user interface 😄 ps. I really like the idea of marking the entry and exit points, and naming them via level of drive-in combination with folders.

You’re welcome ! It’s a very nice shop and they have so much stuff. The shoes are not cheap but they are really comfortable and you don’t get any sand inside. They have laces and a zipper on the side so quite easy to get your feet in.

Awesome awesome awesome 🤩 Thank you soooo much, @Vanessa8580 🙏

You need what they call Tactical Shoes. The two most seen brands in the desert are from Decathlon and Antartica which is available from Amazon. You need a shoe which goes till ankle height and preferably made of canvas and/or leather and light as well, becase in the sand you don't want to wear those heavy work shoes like the ones from Cat. Also avoid sports shoes because they are made with breather able material, and they breathe in sand. Shoes meant for snow might work well, i guess - not sure though. In my experiance, Decathlon are well engineered, they go well with Decathlon Desert Pants. However, my pair developed holes on both the shoes near the small finger and started to fill up with sand. I once tried to attach some Duct Tape, and they looked cool for a total of 15 min before the tape fell off. So I was in the market, this time anything but Decathlon for a change, but I could not find anything good (I visited Outlet Mall on E66), so ended up buying the Antartica Brand from Amazon. PS: continuing my rant on Decathlon - when I washed pants in the washing machine and the hooks at the bottom shredded the pants near the ankle; lesson learnt - don't wash them in washing machine or wash them in delicate mode.

@Mark B this is really strange. I have a yearly subscription so I haven’t ran into this issue yet. If by Friday morning your still on the waitlist (e.g next up on the order to join the drive) I’ll drop out to give you the position no worries!

DAY 1 - Dubai to Al Bathaa (557 Km) The first day goes quickly and unexcitingly, with the transfer to, and crossing of, the Saudi border, and an overnight at a not so Dream Home Hotel, just a few kilometers inside Saudi territory. The crossing itself has taken a little over 1 hour, mostly spent waiting in line for the various checks, which proceed in a very smooth, quick, and courteous way. Car insurance can be bought at the last booth before being allowed through. If it's the first time you enter Saudi you are required, after showing your visa, to register your fingerprints and picture. No travel photos for today. Tomorrow, almost a full day of driving to Edge of the World, which we should reach in around 8/9 hours (depending on how many stops we make), for an early camping and sunset view.

We request every member that joins this drive to go through the below information and strictly follow these guidelines, etiquettes and responsibilities. MUST READ AND COMPLY Off-road Flag Guideline Two Way Radio Guideline Off road Driving Etiquette's Emergency details for all off-roaders Off Road Driving - Roles & Responsibilitie DRIVE DETAILS Level: Fewbie and above When: 29 April 2023, Saturday Meeting time: 6:00 AM - Sharp (Without any exceptions) Meeting Point: 24°44'06.8"N 55°34'07.5"E https://maps.app.goo.gl/PL4iHRmnuPEybKao8?g_st=ic Approximate finish time: 10:00 AM 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, enthusiasm and willingness to learn. Mandatory off-road gears: Tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, compressor, walkie-talkie radio, off-road flag, shovel, first-aid kit and fire extinguisher. LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE This drive is limited to 10 cars only. RSVP will close on FRIDAY - 12 PM If the RSVP is full, you can add your name to the waitlist, once anyone drops, you will be moved to the RSVP list. RSVP will close a day prior to preparing a convoy 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 BELOW CALENDAR

I hope will make it myself on time 🤫🤣

Oh wow, thank you @Looperfor looking into this 🙏🙏😊

@Ahmad Nerat it’s a Fewbie Plus drive.

I will be visiting here today or tomorrow, For same reason! 😁 Will do a research online to get an idea of price range, Also one input i got from kailas was : Try to look for shoes with Zipper, which is more convenient to slip in.

Another option is to look for desert tactical boots on amazon.

Love this! Amazing to see the appreciation! And well done to all those stars 🤩

Love this , what a great post and wonderful to celebrate all those that make this community special . Well done @Benjamin

Thanks @Carnity for this one ! Fantastic , and feels good to have made it to Podium in first one, and lookin forward to many ! Congratulations to you all of you tooo ! @Ale Vallecchi @Davie Chase @Benjamin @JeromeFJ @Ishak @Bjoern @Tharun Kumar V and @Santoso Marjuki @Frederic when and where is the presentation ceremony , I am ready in my tuxedo

Day 3 - Edge of the World to Al Hait, via Al Hatima Crater (839 Km) We have already told of the dramatic wake up of Day 3 (windstorm following a night of heavy rains). Having overcome the shock of such an unexpected and unbelievable weather, we set out to reach the Hatima Crater, near the small village of Tabah. Wadis were full of water, making crossings more fun than challenging, due to their relatively shallow depth. Huge bodies of water filled up, although for a likely short time, the lower points of the many valleys and plains we crossed. Dark and grey clouds filled the sky. A very unusual sight, indeed. After 557 Km of a rather boring drive (so far it seems that most significant sites in Saudi are separated by huge stretches of rather insignificant areas) the road finally led to an interesting, vast and green plain, with jagged mountains on one side, and what looked like low hills on the other. One dirt track led to the closest of these "low hills". At its end, as the track reached the top, an incredibly huge crater revealed itself, with an almost perfectly round shaped rim, and a small, reddish lake at its center. In the distance beyond, what appeared like at least another volcano, perfectly framed at the center of an opening in the crater's opposite rim. The lunch we had on top of this prehistoric looking place is one of the most memorable I ever had. Simply spectacular. After driving on the rim for about one fourth of its length, we got back on the road nearby, headed for our overnight resting place, in the small town of Al Hait, from which tomorrow we will move to visit another volcanic area, and then on to Al Ula. On the way, in the spur of the moment, we took a detour into an area of big boulders and small rocky outcrops, off-roading along the canyons separating these masterpieces of erosion. A very fun moment of improvisation, which provided a perfect opportunity to admire an unexpected sunset. Just to make sure that we wouldn't get used to too many clear skys, as soon as dusk started to descend, dark clouds gathered again, unleashing more heavy rains in the distance on our left side, while an amazing lightning storm blazed in the direction of our final destination. Our day ended as it had begun, with another incredible downpour of rain and hail...... luckily just as we were reaching the hotel. Yes @Anoop Nair. Planning to reach it tomorrow, and spend 2 days around there, including off-roading. Will tell you how it goes.