Snowy Adventure in Hamar-Daban, Russia

If you love to go down - you must also love to go uphill.

At 5:30 in the afternoon we went to the electric train from Irkutsk to Slyudyank, located on the shore of Lake Baikal in the southern part, and in 9 pm we already pedaled uphill, gaining height meter by meter.

The trip on the train is "fun", but we have tried to paint the entire route in details. It was decided to divide the trip into several parts, as we want to relax and productive shooting at the same time. But if we have ideal conditions (temperature, hardness snowmobile roads and mood) - we can pass trail completely in one day. Not all our plans was destined to come true, but anyway - adventure happened and we got a catch in the form of cool shots.

On the first day we went to a lodging for the night already in the dark. The temperature was quite low, nearly -17 C, and on arrival we slept without hind legs.

In the morning, after breakfast, without stopping to take photos or drinking tea,we climbed to the weather station. By the way, there is this Fat-trail thanks to this station and a small camp site 100 meters away from it. In the place where often snowmobiling - you can also easily ride on a fatbike.

After lunch at the meteorological station we were able to sunbathe and relax a bit before the heavy uphill. The air smelled like spring, computer showed +8 C.

I wanted to just sitting, looking into the distance and listen to the sound of falling drops.

But one way or another, we wanted to implement our plan - ascend to the peak on a fatbike. Ahead it was not an easy uphill.

Cheerful start with jokes, rhymes at the end of the first kilometer gave way to fatigue and wet feet.

Carbon bike rides better! In such a mess sometimes we even could ride.

But in many places fatbike rode separately.

Sometimes - even on our backs.

We out of the woods and dazzling snow-white expanses of Hamar-Daban and Sayan began to open for the eyes. And here is the first disappointment. We do not get on the peak. It’s the snowfall recently, and together with the strong winds they are completely hidden hiking trail in the direction of the peak from the eyes of travelers. As a result, we were able to drive only a couple of kilometers out of five. Well to do, so it will be an occasion to come here again.

Untouched snow. Snow depth was not more than 10 cm.

We found a small divarication and flat snowmobile-trail - so it was possible to move in the saddle.

From this point it is already visible Sayan peak.

Now you can enjoy a well-deserved downhill.

We barely had time to dry shoes, as night fell on us.

We make a small fire in the gazebo. After such a busy day, it was nice to just sit by the fire.

I fall asleep with thoughts of the future. Maybe this morning we again try to climb the peak, even without the bikes.

That was morning, that's fresh snow! Probably, not this time we get to the top. At 7 am it was already 5 cm of fresh snow.

We decided to have a good sleep without rushing, have breakfast, have lunch and go down.

Well this is just something for some. Falling snow just turns into a fairy tale every inch of space.

Hold the Fat on a 15-cm of fresh snow was very difficult in the turns.But when it was success to technically pass the turn, there is no limit of joy.

All this way Sarma bikes helped us to enjoy the ride. On this trail you can test all the features of a fatbike. Carbon Sarma Shaman and aluminum Sarma Vortex - both bikes are capable of delivering enormous pleasure from riding, but Shaman was still more comfortable on the uphills. The transfer of power was more effective - you can really feel the advantages of ultralight Sarma carbon frameset and wheels in such a hard conditions, when every gramm is count. And it just looks charmingly, especially in the snowy native element.