Almost4x4

Liwa, is a beautiful and treacherous beast and I love it. Some of the sabhka on the way out were amazing, they looked like fields of snow from where the salt had been drawn out of the ground.

After a long and windy drive to get Hamim I met up with [MENTION=9008]orlantsev[/MENTION] at the petrol station. Just as we were about to head to the camp we got a call from [MENTION=27]alshamsi_m[/MENTION] to stay put. The gate was locked! I was disappointed that we didn’t get to use the balcony camp but actually given how windy it was the camp spot in Hamim was a better choice anyway as it is well sheltered.

However as a little bonus myself [MENTION=10075]Mark[/MENTION]B and Orlantsev had a little Friday afternoon drive with alshamsi playing in the dunes which more than made up for missing the camp site!

We had a great camp, everybody psychically coordinated on the food with no one person bringing the same thing. Thank you everybody for sharing the food was all delicious. We all went to bed pretty early to get ourselves ready for the next day.

The day of driving started… badly. Most of us had full tyre pressure from the night before and we drove into the camp with no problems. On the way back out of the camp however we had a couple of stucks, one crested and one in a lovely little ditch trying to avoid the crested card. This was mainly down to route choice as with full pressure the easiest route possible should have been taken. As we had full pressure it took us a little longer to recover the cars than usual so the actual start was delayed slightly.

Anyway we finally got moving and hit the dunes. The weather was really mixed, rain, sunshine and wind sometimes all at the same time. This really changed the texture of the sand in some places was super slippery and some places very hard.

The drive was brilliant I really enjoyed it, we had quite a few crested moments, mostly due to how hard the sand was I think. I also had my first ever stuck with almost, side crested due to being a bit too close to orlantsev and not having proper momentum. I think normally the rear LSD would have saved me but only one rear wheel was turning so I think the stock jeep clutch plates have given way and its now an open diff.

Shamsi had a stunning popout at a precarious angle but a massive pull from the chief with a Viking and good teamwork from everyone balancing and securing the car got him sorted out.
[MENTION=3389]SINGH[/MENTION] lost a valve somehow but this was again swiftly rectified with shamsi producing a spare valve as if by magic J
We finished off the day by going to a ‘climb’ a term used very loosely that [MENTION=1687]Arminjune[/MENTION] had located. This gave me the opportunity to have a ride in armins jeep as he made the climb. Making the climb is code for driving straight at the slipface of a huge dune at 130kph and racing to get to the top. The sensation is amazing, the gforce pushing you down as you hit the wall is incredible and so is Armins suspension set up!

Great day, special thanks to [MENTION=27]alshamsi_m[/MENTION] , [MENTION=1633]Yoghybear[/MENTION] and [MENTION=1687]Arminjune[/MENTION] for looking after us and guiding us through Liwa.
Hope to see you guys more often this year, I’m away this coming weekend but should be around the next. Then I miss 2 weekends again. So it could be a month if I’m note careful.

See you in the sand.

Liwa Mania

We were to meet at a special camp the club had used in the past, but alas, in the wisdom of the Abu Dhabi government, they have closed that area. Undaunted, our marshals reorganized the group for the famous Hameem camp. Being that there was now plenty of time, [MENTION=27]alshamsi_m[/MENTION] led the three early birds [MENTION=9155]Mark B[/MENTION], [MENTION=9649]matts[/MENTION] and [MENTION=9008]orlantsev[/MENTION] on an intense and exciting tour of a large local dune. We did 45 minutes of incredible Liwa dune driving. A great warmup for the next day.

Cutting across country (half pressure – which is more than the PSI challenge pressure) we came to and set up camp from the desert side. Later [MENTION=1633]Yoghybear[/MENTION], [MENTION=1687]Arminjune[/MENTION] and [MENTION=1593]Melfi[/MENTION] arrived. There was conversation, there was food and there was good company.

My alarm clock the next morning was the big Dodge roaring past my sleeping accommodations. 6:30 on the dot, out, packed up and joined the group for breakfast. [MENTION=3389]SINGH[/MENTION] arrived for breakfast. On the road by 8:30 with a few getting bogged down in the soft sand with full pressure tires. Viking ropes were put to good use even before fueling up.

We did 4 hours of the most beautiful dunes you will ever see. Huge bowls where you drop in vertically and roar out climbing for the sky. [MENTION=27]alshamsi_m[/MENTION] always found a safe exit, though many had the famous Liwa ditch traps just as you transit from one dune to the other. Yes there were a few victims. Rain added to the challenge. Not use to reaching for the wipers toggle when negotiating Liwa dunes.

At 1:00 PM while fixing the second pop out of the day, [MENTION=9008]orlantsev[/MENTION] had to head for the road as he had commitments. The rest of us headed for what I am going to call “Armin’s insane climb”. You know when you come across one of those huge drops in Liwa, the ones where the dune sings to you and the drop seems to go on forever. Well Armin figures going from top to bottom is too easy, why not try bottom to top. So we did. Some of us made it (Armin 3 times) and some of us did not (myself included). I sure was fun trying.

Well at 3:00 PM we aired up and convoy’d out of Liwa and headed home. Liwa trips are always fun, but this trip ranks as one of the best off road trips I have done, ever. Thanks all for organizing and thanks for the comradery.

Mark

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The view from the top of "Armin's Insane Climb" Dune.

Mark

Wao… what a day it was … and now understand why they say.. “Liwa is Liwa”…

It was my first trip to Liwa and I realized what I was missing. Due to some of my personal commitments I won’t be able to come for the camp and reached early in the morning. I deflated before reaching the camp, then Shamsi said we are going to drive on road, so I inflated the tyres again. And then coming out of that place became a “PSI Challenge”…:OSMILEY:

Orlantsev got crested, I decided to cross him from his left and will pull him from the front, but a small nice ditch was waiting for me and coming out of that with the inflated tyre’s was impossible. Then I reminded myself that it’s LIWA… not the usual badayer area…:ninja:

As matt & mark has mentioned above, we drove in all the weather conditions and that too in those dangerous liwa dunes, with the sand being slippery on top but soft underneath. The experience can’t be explained in words only; you can only feel when you drive there.:tastey:

And then that situation…where shamsi got a pop out. The awkward position in which his car was…:wtfsmilie: I can bet that only the experience and expertise of Shamsi and yoghybear can get the car out of that. The way they accessed the situation, discussed all the pros & cons of different ways which they can use to rescue and then finalizing the safest one was really great. The car was out in one shot….superb…:like:

Later on while crossing a tricky part, I got “phiss” sound and immediately felt that I got a “popout”, to my surprise, the front right tyre valve was gone..:yuush: that too a “Metal Valve”… Was carrying two sets of metal valves as spare, but Shamsi advised that it’s better to stick to the rubber valve at this time and he fixed one from his stocks to the tyre… and we were on track within no time.

Then, before putting shutters down for the trip, we reached that huge dune, I agree with Mark, that big “Armin’s insane climb”…:scared: it was like speed up your 4x4 for a takeoff against a sand wall… what a climb.. Amazing… Armin and Yoghy nailed that and Mark almost kissed the top lip (I am sure you want to do that again, don’t forget to take me along with you :teeth brushing :…)… what an experience that was…

Finally… a big thanks to Shamsi for leading us to & through Liwa, Yoghybear for all your guidance and support… Armin for your great help and for the amazing show @ “Armin’s Dune”….

[video=youtube_share;5P7b4o9Squc][/video]

Hi all,

My report comes a bit late since I travelled today.

Indeed travelling to Hamim along E65 was interesting as you do not always see rain clouds coupled with the sand blowing across the highway and the landscape was still showing signs of the heavy rain.

When I got the text from Bu Salem my first worry was the trip could be at risk due to possibly unfavourable weather forecast, but gladly it was just the change in the driving location.

The bonus 1 hour drive was far from being a warm up … it was truly a high intensity drive which left my hands shaking for another hour. Given my lack of hair (caused by excessive manipulation with the hair style in my younger days) I was the first to notice the rain drops. Gladly it did not develop into the bigger rain overnight. It was also great that the wind started to weaken meaning we could enjoy the BBQ and the campfire.

In the morning Bu Salem left first to the petrol station. Even our marshalls tell us to follow their track it is not always the case, especially not when you are 20+ PSI in Liwa. What could be doable for him was not for me, and I crested and unfortunately caused Singh to get into even worse stuck. Further to my disappointment I realized that the rest of the convoy followed a much easier track to the left.

At the petrol station I left my car with a key in while I went to use the bathroom. When I came back Mark was behind the wheel – was it the unsuccessful car hijack attempt, or valet parking or simply helping the petrol station personnel manage the space – Jeep would feel jealous due to your lack of loyalty.

The main drive was spectacular and full of events. As always for me in Liwa I do not start great, but towards the middle of the drive I gain more confidence and things are much easier. This time the straight crests were giving me drama.

Unfortunately I really had to head back to Dubai at 1 pm, due to my early morning travel and thanks to Bu Salem for recognizing it and taking the convoy closer to the road so I could leave. Sad to realize that it could have been the last Liwa trip this cool season.

Hi Everyone

Off-roaders are suffering a new enemy called the "FENS". the desert is shrinking more and more due to preserved areas for either wildlife or oil refinery . Unfortunately, we lost our AMAZING CAMP:dark mood: which had 3 balconies & 3 mobile operators " Saudi Arabia, Oman & UAE ". Nevertheless, I promise you that I'm going to find you something similar in the next season .

We had a perfect number of cars for intermediate/Advance Liwa 5 – 7 cars. We only drove 7.5 km from the road to the desert but we jumped in almost every ditch or bowl in front of us except the ADVANCE ones .

The rain gave us the advantage of entering even tough bowls but at the same time the walls were a bit tricky, So my advice " dear intermediates, don't try what we did this time ":whut:.

Although, we couldn't camp in the AMAZING CAMP we had an amazing camping night with amazing people. Thanks, Chief for the breakfast and continues support :in love:and sorry for the small places I had to take you through:confident: .

Thanks to all for another successful event by Almost4x4 family.

Cheers

We offroaders need a new weapon in our war against the fence.

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On a side note, I did read that the Qasr Al Sarab area will be 'opened' to the public at some point but it has not been yet.

It looks like I missed a really fantastic trip !
On the problem of fences and locked gates enclosing the desert, is perhaps the EMSF the best organisation to 'represent' our sport and our need for access

Hi Ginger,

The EMSF might well be the right call and I pictured the bolt cutters mostly in jest. Asking the EMSF to talk through access to an environmental protection zone with EAD might be like asking an Bernie Ecclestone to have a sit down with greenpeace. There might be something to be said for staying under the radar.

On the other hand 'staying under the radar' could be read as not addressing the problem. So you could well be right. Still asking to allow motorsport inside an environmental protection zone will be tough, and within 'Oilfield' areas impossible.

Maybe we should start a new thread somewhere for this.