– If the expedition is successful, Mateusz Waligóra will perform something very important, which will have no equal in the exploration of deserts by Poles – said Marek Kamiński, the first man who won both poles in one year.
Almost two months ago, Waligóra set off from Bulgan (Khovd Province), located in western Mongolia near the border with China. To reach the desert part of the Gobi he had to go through the mountains of the Altai. He pulled a cart – specially prepared for the trip – for passes whose height exceeded 2,000 m above sea level. He transported the food, equipment and water needed for survival. Equipment – tent, down jacket, warm underwear – because at night the temperature dropped below – 10 degrees. Water, because during the trip there were several days without a well. It happened that during the day the temperature exceeded 35 degrees Celsius. In that time Waligóra drank more than 10 liters a day. Sometimes the cart had to load 90 liters and it’s weight was of over 200 kg.
Before the expedition, Waligóra assumed that he would be self-sufficient. Previously, the Mongolian part of the Gobi – Chinese desert is greater, but it’s almost impossible to get permission for its passage, besides it is more urbanized – managed to pass the travelers thanks to camels, food deposit, assisted by cars that relieved the adventurer and found a route and wells.
Waligóra navigated with help of several maps, on which he marked all potential wells before the expedition. Few times he got lost on one of the thousands of desert paths left by the inhabitants of the desert and wandered in search of the right route.
He came to Mongolia two months ago, not sure if the expedition would begin. It has been the driest year on the Gobi since measurements have been carried out. And after the drought Mongolia was visited by storms and floods.
After the hard time of the Altai he entered the desert. Sandstorms were a threat there. He survived a few of them in the tent.
In the second part of the expedition he had a problem with inner tubes. At the end of the expedition, he glued them every few hours to keep going. Seven spokes broke in wheels, and even a few days ago he was not sure whether he would finish the trip.
On Monday around 12am local time he came to Sainshand. Within 58 days he defeated 1785 km. He is the first man who alone crossed the Mongolian part of the largest desert of Asia.
The expedition was possible thanks to:
Fjällräven, Primus Equipment, Aztorin, Leatherman, Leatherman Poland, Radio ZET, Lyofood, Wild Willy Beef Jerky, This 1, Goal Zero, Iridium Communications, LESOVIK, Superfeet – Poland, Triglav, Manfrotto Poland, Olympus Poland, Icebreaker, Rohner Advanced Socks , Crosso, Sea to Summit Poland, Akubra UK, KEEN, Zmiany Zmiany
Fantastic!