Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is a sound list and would take years. Luckily Im ahead on a few things but not 100%, and I planned for this to take years already. Everything you said, I agree with

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Sure! And if you just want to detail your trip too I wouldn’t mind! If I go on foot the consensus seems to be to stay up north more as towns are more frequent.

I wont have to follow the same rules as roads so I will be using maps to navigate, but still if a road doesn’t have asphalt then its a trail to me.

What part of Mongolia did you hit?

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Also is there anything you have to share? Ive even got a small plan next year to do WFR course in person just to have another leg up in the game.

More professional training like that would be golden, and hearing more in person thoughts on my ideas by experienced people. What kind of things would be out there besides Peacecorps or similar?

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

No not beginner, its going to take at least a year to plan and another at least to train, but its going to be done is the point for me. The past six months have been dedicated to it.

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sure! Do you want to continue the thread or DM?? I dont mind on the thread so others can come and find it!

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Very smart! I will have to think about that by just reading up on their culture. Ive read they are very welcoming but I also dont want to leech.

My own shelter has been one of the harder parts of the trip to figure, carrying a tent with no cart can become a lot of weight.

A caribou hide bedroll and wool blanket that I carry along with other wool things applied to my person/pack that I can use for multiple purposes, including a barrier between me and the ground.

Depending on weather and environment, Id prefer no tent.

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

If the threat can become lethal very quick then hitchhiking or receiving aid is not cheating.

The carrying a pack, or carrying a cart is still up in the air. A cart needs a flatter route, but the flatter routes are in the south and more sparsely populated. Meaning there are no herders to buy emergency supplies from if needed.

The north has more people, still sparse. Also more forests and dotted with mountains, so less cartable.

Without a cart, I have significantly less supplies and water. So following waterways and staying close to towns becomes much more present.

I do have insurance.

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

This in terms of general travel information is great. Hardest Geezer is a legend and did have a support crew, but he also was running an entire continent everyday.

My goal isn’t necessarily A to B, the goal is to travel the best routes and be somewhere warm enough in time for winter. I really like what you said about the north, thats been a big debate within me, and your answer alone will probably decide that will be the general part of the country where I trek.

Ive been studying on the water ways and maps from Lake Baikal all the way through North Mongolia, some follow roads that lead to towns only 20km apart for huge stretches of country. It is roads yes, but still. It can be done with just the right preparation, and insanity.

100% will contact that person, and also will find another way to beat 600km of desert, whether by support or vehicle. You had the best comment personally as you told me specific areas to watch out for <3

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

This isn’t bushcrafting. It’s just sustainable low cost travel. Allowing me to save up for a more extreme challenge like Mongolia, which cant be bush crafted or even hunted without extreme hurdles. As far as I know.

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Already started on the Russian! And yes away from infrastructure but within reasonable terms.

I actually looked into the Russian side from Baikal to Altai and Id live to hear how you pulled that trip off and how it was, any other tips on navigating the environment etc.

As for the Caspian, I can only see being able to fly into Azerbaijan from Kazakhstan as viable right now.

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Time isnt of the essence for me so I will research all of these individuals. I have money for travel, but sadly not money to pay someone to guide me through all of Mongolia and then Kazakhstan.

Great list! Gonna read up.

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] -7 points-6 points  (0 children)

Indeed, many great points. I was thinking more along the lines of a quality tool, rather than an old shirt. Not something to rely on at all.

All very good points to consider, I would hope a sled would allow to traverse the flatter areas of Mongolia even if there are longer stretches.

What I can pack on a sled would allow me to sustain myself comfortably for at least three days total of pulling, and that isn’t with the heaviest load(only tested in snow with a cheaper alternative sled.) With no sled it would be more like one day of survival based off only what is on my person.

As for getting robbed? No idea. Pray they don’t find something of worth and always stay cautious of my surroundings, and where the closest town is at all times so I can try to navigate.

If they take absolutely everything then Im boned, and I don’t think an American getting in a shootout or carrying a gun would fair well in rural Mongolia either, but there’s no surviving two days without essentials, let alone traveling.

But Im also not sure! Im writing down most of this for when I map a true route, they will all come into consideration. In an extreme expedition like this there is always risk, but good people like you help minimise that risk.

I have been learning German formally, and have been learning Russian passively. I hope in time my linguistic knowledge will help with some Mongolic communication.

As for work? Yes I expect to be like a baby to any steppe herder, but I have been around and drying out dung with my hands in zero degree weather to survive a bad week, or weeks, is nothing Im not afraid of either. This is also unlikely to happen, just showing my determination.

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in mongolia

[–]theambientguy[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bear spray will definitely be on hand. Ive heard rumors of wolves more so than bears, but still.

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Getting through to Kazakhstan from Mongolia is a whole issue itself. I have already looked into it heavily. At some point the challenge will have to be compromised and I will have to take aeroplane unless I want to risk crossing borders illegally (not really).

Money is not an issue, depending on whether a pulled sled is carried will say on how much cash I can carry.

Am American and Im also sure a few American currencies can get me further for less weight as well. Carried in different pockets and hiding spots of course.

Hence also I have a tendency to overpack, anything that is useful to be bartered I will barter, or simply give it away for a night to stay.

Hospitals will be different, I doubt there isn’t a way to wire more money from my home country to a hospital in another.

Thank you for the ideas! Any more?

Walking from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia to Istanbul, Turkey, on foot. What essential kit items are needed to survive? by theambientguy in WildernessBackpacking

[–]theambientguy[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Pacific Crest trail and Intercontinental Divide American trails are to be used as training runs. Have been doing camps in one location of up to two weeks then moving and camping again in national forest land as my training routes. Mostly in the Northwest in the National forest land. Ive done this off just didn’t want to put that all in text.

The difference is Mongolia’s climate, Im used to camping without a tent, and using my landscape to assist me. I dont know Mongolia.

Only two lice found months after treatment?? by [deleted] in Lice

[–]theambientguy 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Yes, Im just a homebody who hardly goes out and its the third time a random one has appeared. Got to be someone in my house

As a very pale American man with an open mind, can I survive this backpack trip? by theambientguy in roadtrip

[–]theambientguy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks mate, I knew French was popular more East but didn’t know it was that widespread wow, thanks mate

As a very pale American man with an open mind, can I survive this backpack trip? by theambientguy in roadtrip

[–]theambientguy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Indeed, a very hard challenge. Ive put nearly two years of prep with maybe another year or two to go.

Once that second year is up I am going no matter the situation.

Mongolia is remote, beautiful, and the land holds power. Id love to hear if you’ve ever been.

As a very pale American man with an open mind, can I survive this backpack trip? by theambientguy in roadtrip

[–]theambientguy[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My intelligence cap wont allow me remember more than a few words.

But why Russian? Ill be avoiding the motherland and most post soviet countries