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Normally my trip reports are delayed, but such was the kind of drive today that even though it's almost 5 hours since the drive ended the emotions are running pretty high. So here it goes: The day started with everyone making it on time. After a couple of laughs and briefing we got on our way. It took me a while to get a feel of the sand and the wierd dune formation didn't help much as well. Just as the dunes started getting spaced out and the drive flow improving we had the first unfortunate incident. Such incidents does bring the morale of the entire convoy down especially so early in the drive, but such was the maturity of all the drive participants that everyone chipped in to help sort the issue. By the time we were able to return to the desert it was close to 1 pm, so we decided to head to the famous Pajero bowl by taking the dirt track. Such kind of bowls are always nested deep within the desert surrounded by technical patch. As we glided through the narrow corridors available we had our first good run of the day. Pajero bowl was a shadow of what it was 5 years ago, when the name was invented. The difficulty level has all but gone, but still one needs to be fully focussed and committed to get in and get out. Everyone took their turns with some setting a record pace within the bowl. 😂 After having a couple of attempts and with just 2.5 hours of time available we decided to head to the other bowls of the area. What we instead found was a jungle full of bushes and hard bumps that didn't allow for a smooth ride. As we dodged our way out of the big dune area we arrived at a stretch of medium size dunes. Medium is a relative word, as these dunes were probably taller than the ones in Sweihan. And this is where we had one of the best nonstop runs that I have had the privilege of being a part of. To say that the convoy maintained a brisk pace would be a gross understatement. I wish to thank all the drive participants for putting their faith and following the route being chartered. We drove for close to 40 mins before finally I had to stop to catch my breath and so did the rest of the convoy. A break always causes a couple of refusals and so we had it as well. But once the convoy again started moving we were flying through the dunes criss crossing at the highest points and at will. That's when we heard that @ASAD. car started over heating. On closer inspection we found that the radiator fan was completely shredded and was not there. After letting the car cool off, we had the huge challenge of getting his car from the huge patch of dunes into the sabkha. As the sun was about to set in 30 minutes we had a narrow window to get the convoy out. With some excellent coordination by @Waqas Parvez @Rob S and tugging by @Tom B we were able to get the car out to the sabkha. Also a big appreciation to everyone for chipping in and helping get Asad's car ready to handle atleast some sections where he needed to drive out by himself. The excellent teamwork ensured that we recovered the car and safely reached the tarmac by 6 PM. Thank you everyone for joining the drive and for your excellent participation to help overcome each obstacle that we faced today. And thanks once again for the one hour run that we had, that was truly special.

My word , what a drive! Thank you @Srikumar for planning and leading us through this treacherous terrain , the amazing support team and to all I drove with today. That everyone kept their heads and their sense of humour in the face of such adversity is a credit to the entire convoy. It was an absolute pleasure to drive with you all. Nothing says Team Carnity like a Prado towing a Prado through the dunes under the watchful eye of the Crew and support team 👏 (More pics posted in the gallery. Ps if anyone has a video of me completing the legend (although somewhat diminished) that is the Pajero bowl I’d greatly appreciate it . )

Videos courtesy of @Imran Kashif @Tom B @Haitham Khattab @Foxtrot Oscar Srikumar

Wow!! I had high hopes for this drive, but it exceeded all expectations. Despite the unfortunate incident in the morning, the afternoon stretch was the best stint of fast pace driving I have ever had in the desert. The pace and terrain required razor sharp focus and everyone rose to the occasion and drove out of their skins. The terrain was absolutely incredible and well worth the long drive there and back. @Srikumaryour drives never disappoint, but this goes down as best Carnity drive i have been apart of. You also demonstrated great leadership when dealing with the two difficult incidents we encountered. @ZedI hope you got back home safely and haven't been left too shaken. @ASAD. likewise, hope you got back ok and the car is repaired quickly. Absolutely superb effort as 2L. It was pleasure driving with you all and hope to see you all soon. I'll post some pics in the gallery shortly.

Thanks @Srikumar for a wonderful day at Waqan. It was only around 1pm that we actually started the drive before which we weren't sure if we would be even getting a drive at all. So hats off to your leadership for still making it a memorable drive like you said the run was special is an understatement .That i managed to shred the radiator fan of a toyota is probably a testament 😂. Thankfully, the engine looks fine as i was still able to drive for short bursts. Also thanks for trusting me as your 2nd lead, i can assure you its not easy 😅. @Tom B @Waqas Parvez & @Rob S. cant thank you guys enough for helping me out with the tug, great teamwork as usual. To the rest of the gang, great driving. @Zed so glad to see you in high spirits as always. Look forward to seeing the LC2000 back in the sands soon. PS: Have some wonderful videos of the pajero bowl, will be sharing once i catch my breath 😄.

@Rob S here is your attempt at the Pajero bowl

Another great morning out with Carnity Family ! It was fantastic to meet you all again in the sand ! With @Melenany , @Hisham Masaadand @Abdelghani as my sidekicks i knew we could do anything. It was great meeting you again after a long time. @Sajan.S was our only Absolute Newbie but after a couple of dunes became more comfortable and you drove superb for your very first drive ! Hope to see you soon again. Most hitch receiver that are for sale are 2 inch, for the explorer this is less so it might be a little bit more difficult to find the right type. We had a driver with us last year @Asem Rashwan who had below setup: You do not need the towball, but more importantly with this setup we can put a soft shackle around that middle shaft. Please have one installed before your second drive. @babaski @Arsalan Ehsan@Ishak@Bravoecho@Theo09@Abdelghani@Frans M@Quresh. @Stumpy Paj you guys managed whatever i threw at you like champs. We kept it on a gentle pace to make sure everyone was comfortable and we could enjoy the fantastic weather and scenery. I hope you all enjoyed it. @GauravSoni and his superb convoy arrived just after us, and it was great to see such a large group (25+ cars) all together and Carnity was in full strength that morning. Thanks again buddy for taking on the second convoy so everyone had a great morning out. See you all in the sands soon again !

What a long endurance challenging drive @Ale Vallecchi incredible route amazing scenery 👌 thank you for the thrill! I am still recovering 😆 The team was great and drove very well, if anything, I had the highest number of refusals 😃 😊 especially towards the last 30 minutes of the drive, where the sand was super slippery, due to the wet sub surface. My old Landcruiser struggled a bit! Thank you @Chris Wingand @Mehmet Volgafor the great support. To the rest of the reat of the team, incredible 👏 drive welldone all. See you all soon

Love it !! Thanks so much and it is so getting sent to my former copilot who’s currently travelling the world !! She’ll be so jealous!! @Srikumar takes a 3.5t jack to the head, but still leads through Wagan, rescues multiple cars, videographer supreme AND posts drive reports on the same day! Superhuman. 👏🤣

Awe, you were missed! Glad you were unscathed and your unfortunate incident did bear fruit in the shape of Al Ain’s finest comedy police team. Those guys were hysterical 🤣

Climb, Ride, Cross, Exit and Start again… From left to right, from right to left… During day light and night… They are the infinity loops, made in @M.Seidam… Al Quadra is the right place to learn ridge riding and crest crossing… All convoy drove perfectly under the beautiful lead of @M.Seidam It was very nice to drive with all of you Have a nice week

Great videos! That’s a nasty noise coming from my front left. Need to get they looked into.

Ah that should have been my LC's job, with all 3 gears (transfer case + front + rear diffs) re-geared, it's a towing truck meant to handle these scenarios. I'm bummed I missed the fun, but I'm glad I didn't spoil and steal your day guys 😁👍🏻👍🏻

Congratulations @Nadeem Ansari for reaching the Fewbie Level with Carnity Offroad Club. Looking forward to seeing you growing further and helping others to learn the art of offroading in a safe environment. Please make sure your Carnity user profile is always updated with all the latest Emergency contact details. P.S. Trip lead might deny your participation if you don't have required off-road gear. FEWBIE Drives Attended (Indicative) Minimum 5 Newbie drives are required within last 3 months for Fewbie promotion. What you'll learn Basic dune and sand reading Self-recovery techniques Shoveling at right place Crawling out of difficult situations Blip Blip - Coordinate steering and gas control Basic side sloping and hill climb Basic ridge riding and criss crossing Basic control over technical dunes Slightly faster pace desert driving Ability to manage stuck/refusals with radio Learn to control and avoid fishtailing Never fight or challenge gravity Skills required Enthusiastic and positive attitude Willingness to learn and help others Presence of mind and attention to detail Car Worthiness Any 4x4 vehicle with low range gearing Suitable approach and departure angle Off-road gear required Safety flag, tire deflator, tire pressure gauge, shovel, fire extinguisher, medical kit, radio (walkie-talkie), air compressor. Drive teamwork Manage second lead and sweep positions upon request Intuitive and proactive to support Trip Lead Observe recoveries and offer help, when needed Drive Joining Join Newbie and Fewbie drives Forum participation Active participation on the forum Share drive experience + feedback Share drive pictures in the gallery Post trip report after the drive

I don't think there is much more for me to add after @Srikumar 's drive report, and @Foxtrot Oscar, @Tom B and @ASAD. I didn't realize on the day, but this full day drive was my 60th drive with Carnity . . . . . who could imagine less than 14months ago I had never got behind the wheel of a 4x4! Testament to the skills taught and learnt during Carnity drives and the amazing Toyota Prado (with only minor modifications!). @Zed I hope you are doing well and see you again in the deserts soon. @ASAD. fantastic job as SL and hope the car is repaired swiftly! @Vaibhav shame you were unable to join us, its been a while since we had the whole gang on one drive. @Waqas Parvez great job supporting through the various challenges! Thanks again @Srikumar, look forward to joining your next adventure! PS. @Srikumar I have your initial pajero bowl escape but its to big to share on whatsapp!

I have , I’ll send now

Does anyone have my video @ Pajero bowl. If yes, please WhatsApp me on 050 4500597. Thanks

Congrats @Nadeem Ansari on the promotion

Congratulations @Nadeem Ansarion the promotion.

Congratulations @Nadeem Ansari well done to be promoted - enjoy your new level.

Congrats @Nadeem Ansari👏👍

Congratulations @Nadeem Ansari

wow what a drive @Ale Vallecchi physically, mentally and even mechanically challenging 🤘. Huge thanks to everyone.

It's been a pleasure driving under your supervision. Thank you for recognizing my contribution and elevating me to the next level. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude along with this gift. I'm overjoyed that my hard work has paid off and that I've been promoted. 😘😘😘

Congratulations @Nadeem Ansari 👍

Congratulations @Nadeem Ansari well done

Congratulations @Marco B. see u on the next level drives soon!

Congrats @Marco B. 👍👍

Thank you for the great adventurous drive, as a newbie had a good start with challenging dunes, ofcourse the "am stuck" experience :). Thanks a ton @Frederic and @Melenany @Hisham Masaad and Abdelghani and Frans for the pics.

Dear Dune surfers @Frans M @Imteeaz @Tharun Kumar V @Senthil Kumar @Zulfikhar Naiyar @Mark Gladiator @Albarqawi85 @Gary F @Mahmoud Taha @Pieter Potgieter @Pierre de Maigret @Yaseen87 @Bhaskar @Benjamin@Alphin Aloor @Dimitrios Kalogirou @imranaasghar81 @Dodi Syahdar Special thanks to @Varun Mehndiratta for stepping up to lead a split convoy making sure everyone has a drive this Sunday. please find the convoy order as below Convoy 1 : 44600625 channel 1 Convoy 2 : 44605625 channel 3 The meeting point is Dropped pin https://maps.app.goo.gl/HG7gTUpRTDGU6Vp26?g_st=ic see you all at 7 am

Convoy Numbering 1. SK 2. ASAD. 3. Imran Kashif 4. Haitham 5. Waqas Parvez 6. Tom B 7. Rob S 8. Varun 9. Anoop Nair 10. Foxtrot Oscar 11. Sunil Mathew 12. Zed We shall be using Carnity Channel 3. See you tomorrow morning.

downlaod it to you tube in private if you want and share the link here 🙂

No worries @Yerem Davtyan your name was still in the waitlist on Friday when i closed the convoy list around 10am.

Folks, looks like you had an awesome drive! @Frederic, I just realized that you put me as a 2nd lead (thank you), but I believe I had removed my name from the waitlist on Friday, didn't I? Apologies if I didn't and caused inconvenience. See you in the sand soon!

Hi Frederic, defnitly i will get it installed before my second drive. Thank you for sharing and great advise 🤝👍

Congrats @Marco B.👏👍

Congratulations @Marco B.

@Varun Mehndirattathis is should consider as few plus so i can end my 7th few+🤗

Thanks for the enjoyable drive @Frederic and @Melenany @Hisham Masaad and Abdelghani for the support. See you everyone on the next drives.

thank you @M.Seidam for the great drive, the last part of the drive was fantastic and really enjoyed it (it was my first night drive) thanks to @Fabien Monleaufor the great support and thanks to all team members

@Ale Vallecchi thank you very much today’s drive. All of you, it was one of the best convoys I experienced.. even , i didn't take any pictures it was so dynamic indeed, we were flying and everyone piloted perfectly .. sorry my friend got sick, however thank you for support to get us safe home earlier. Take care and looking forward to another flight soon.. Have a great weekend.

I wish I could reload it once more with you guys . Have fun and be safe . Zed @Zed please don’t leave any one behind in any of the bowls 😅

Good point @Looper regarding the switch area. For wranglers JL, the sand and dust can pass through the switch gaps and can make the switches stuck. I had to change the whole panel once as the hazard lights were not going off. If not under warranty, it can cost 2K plus. So I got the below cap that can be easily put on during desert drives, and I remove once the drive is over. It gives complete protection to the switch area. Additionally when I take the hard top off, I have a sun shade protection. This can help reduce the sand coming inside.

@Alexanderrr you can add yourself in the waitlist for the Fewbie + drive.. there are always chances of dropouts.. if u don’t have a drive, you can join this one for sure.

Looking forward to this Sunday morning fewbie drive under your lead. @GauravSoni it’s been a good few weeks since I was out so I’m expecting an arm workout 😀 Will be good to catch-up with you @Mark Gladiator I may need to change my name too 😜 Looking forward to exploring the ghost village

Do you know your roles and responsibilities while off-roading? Offroad driving is one of the most famous adventure activities in the UAE. Everyone during the offroad drive is always nice and very welcoming to help each other. Due to the nature of this extreme and adventurous motorsport, sometimes things do get unpleasant and everyone involved needs to know their roles and responsibilities clearly. Desert worthiness vehicle: While off-roading every vehicle get pushed to its limit and for this reason, every off-roader needs to maintain, check and fix vehicle problem before every drive. Follow your owner's manual schedule maintenance for extreme driving (harsh environment) intervals and not standard road driving intervals. Preventative maintenance will save you much hassle and time in the long run. We are not mechanics - As much as Carnity trip lead and support offer the first level of vehicle assistance when things go wrong, but they are not mechanic and no one should rely on that emergency support to avoid any maintenance. We are not an Insurance provider - In case of an accident, please follow the UAE road accidents procedures and check with your car insurance company about off-road coverage and recovery plan (if any). We are not a desert recovery company - If your vehicle breaks down during the drive, Carnity trip lead and support will try as much as they can to help, but their vehicles aren't tow trucks to recover a dead vehicle or partially working vehicle out of the deep desert. There are professional desert recovery companies like AAA to assist you and take full responsibility for not causing any further damage while recovering a non-moving vehicle from the desert. We will never leave you alone - In case you ever need to leave your vehicle inside the desert to arrange insurance or recovery, then Carnity trip lead and support will drive you down to the nearest tarmac exit. Mechanical Damage / Failure: Every offroader is responsible for his/her own car failure/damage. Especially in the offroad use some minor long-pending issues might amplifies due to the off-road stress and it should not be blamed on anyone other than the owner of the car. If you have any remote doubt that something might fail in the upcoming off-road drive, then please get that fixed first and then join for next week's drive, rather than taking chances and/or increasing the existing damage. It's always a good practice to join a newbie drive first after some crucial repairs or maintenance to test your vehicle again and then join the Fewbie drive and then Intermediate (as per your off-road rank eligibility). Breakdown log reporting: Every trip lead is reporting the vehicle breakdown after the drive. Occasional breakdowns or accidents are totally acceptable, but repeat breakdown of the same vehicle will not be appreciated. Please look into repeat vehicle breakdown seriously before it becomes a concern for everyone. Two cars involved in an offroad accident: Please decide on the spot, whose fault it is, and report to the neighboring police station for appropriate green and red paper for repairs. Most insurance companies don't cover offroad damage so please make sure if you drive expensive 4x4 with comprehensive insurance, please check your offroad cover properly. Take a lot of pictures and videos of the accident site as Police always ask for this and also save the coordinates of the location as sometimes police like to revisit that area to verify the accident. Single car damage in offroad: In case your car flips or rollover or have any impact damage, take a lot of pictures and videos of the incident as Police always ask for this and also save the coordinates of the location. Tow point failure damage: Every offroader is responsible for their own car tow point strength, integrity, and load taking capacity. If your car tow point fails during "ANY" sort of recovery and damages the other offroader car, then you will be liable for all the damages including the car, driver, and passenger bodily injuries. To avoid such a situation always recover gently and gradually increase the intensity of the tug. If you still suspect that a lot harder tug is needed use the support strap, dampers, or sandbag to secure both ends of the tow rope. Damage while recovering: As much as every trip lead and support are trained to prevent the damage while recovering any vehicle, but the ultimate responsibility of any damage while recovering lies with the owner of the stuck car. Scenario 1: In some cases when your car nosedive in the sand pocket, the front bumper damage is already done, but it becomes visible when your car gets fully recovered out of the pocket. Scenario 2: While recovering a stuck car by a tug, if the stuck car doesn’t stop early enough after the recovery and hit the recovering car, then the stuck car owner is at fault and liable for all damages involved. Lubes / Spare Sharing: Many offroaders do carry a lot of spare fluids, oil, coolant, and other spare parts for emergency situations. If your car breaks down and someone offers you their spares or lubes, have the courtesy to pay or replace that in the next drive. Offroad Gear: Every offroader is 100% responsible for his/her own off-road gear, tools, and equipment and should know how to use them safely and how to take care of them in terms of regular maintenance (if any). If you lend your tow rope to someone, it's your responsibility to make sure that it doesn't have a knot. If you lend your metal shackle, brief that person to unscrew the last round so as not to get stuck. If you lend your jack, either stay around to see if it's placed on flat ground to not bend or brief them properly. If you lend your toolbox or tools, you need to make sure it's used as intended and they don't break. If you winch someone, you should know your winch capacity to do the recovery safely. If you lend your compressor, make sure it's not overheating or wait for it to cool down. Shovel, flag, radio, etc. is also your own responsibility & share it at your own risk. Off-road Promotions: As per Carnity Off-road Structure every off-roader has been assigned an off-road rank based on your driving skills, vehicle capability, and overall attitude towards off-roading. These promotions, ranks, and structures are in place to make sure that everyone is completely safe including you and your vehicle during all off-road drives. Due to safety reasons, there is zero-tolerance while promoting offroaders in Carnity off-road club. Once anyone applies for the off-road promotion, the request goes to all trip lead with who you have driven to access your off-road progress. Mostly all promotion requests are accepted immediately. For some, we request them to do a couple of more drives with the feedback in which you need to improve. Please accept and respect this club policy to help us maintain a safer off-road experience for everyone. Emergency details for all off-roaders: Please fill up all Emergency details here and also take a print out to keep the same in your glove box. It is mandatory for all off-roaders driving with Carnity Off-road Club.

With the summer coming closer, we will go a little deeper into the dangers of being exposed to the extreme heat UAE brings to us. During off-roading, some activities such as recovery work, replacing tyres, and dealing with pop-outs, are physically demanding, and many of us who are in office jobs are not trained to cope with this amount of heat. Luckily with the help of some basic things, we can minimize the risk of below mentioned issues. The following risks are identified: Heat exhaustion: Warning signs: A person may suddenly look pale. Heart rate will increase and the victim may complain of feeling dizzy and nauseous. A feeling of weakness is also common. What to do: Seek shade immediately and lie down, especially if you’re feeling lightheaded. Apply a cold compress to the forehead and remove extra layers. Heat Stroke: Warning signs: Heat stroke is a type of hypothermia where the body temperature is greatly elevated. If not treated immediately it can be fatal. Symptoms are similar to those of a heart attack, along with nausea, headaches, hallucinations, difficulty in breathing, and agitation, What to do: apply cool water to the skin and place ice packs under the arms to reduce the temperature quickly. Preventive Measures: • Sip some water all day long, rather than just when you are thirsty. If you are thirsty it means you are already dehydrated. • Wear light clothing that can "breathe", but also wear sunblock and keep your head protected with a cap or hat. • Some fruit and vegetables can re-hydrate the body even more than water. Carry some in your cooler. • Water is important, but too much water can be dangerous as it can cause electrolyte depletion. Limit yourselves to 2-3 liters per day. • When recovering a vehicle in full sun, limit your exposure time and take some rest every couple of minutes. Because you are focused on the task at hand, you might completely forget the heat and become dizzy and exhausted. • If at some point you feel unwell, inform your club members immediately. When driving, inform immediately over the radio so the convoy can be stopped. • Keep an eye out for your fellow club members. It is relatively easy to recognize above symptoms in somebody else. Let them take appropriate rest. Please do share your tips, hints, experiences !

100 Points awarded to @Frederic for this "Exceptional Post".

Wow that’s a massive amount ! I always learned about the rule of thumb which was 0,03 times your body weight = recommended water intake per day.

Very nicely written @Frederic, just like to add two more points: Water intake is dependent on your body weight And also the number of mins you are exercising https://goodcalculators.com/water-intake-calculator/ For same body weight, 3.83 litres is required for 30 mins workout, but 4.9 litres is required if you work out for 2 hours