Air conditioned
Page 54
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Sweltering in London's suffocating comer of the European heat-wave, it does me good to read about "negotiating snowdrifts through clouds." Especially as this novel hit of travelling was part of a successful attempt to traverse a glacier with a new Russian bus, the UAZ-452V, and two new cars, all built at the Ulyanovsk motor works.
Just think of all that lovely glistening ice hundreds of feet thick. (Pause for private fantasy).
I am still a little vague about the purpose of this Soviet exercise, but am quite prepared to believe that lit Showed that " UAZ vehicles can be used reliably in highland conditions." The glacier is on Elbrus, highest peak in the Caucasus, and the three vehicles climbed along the vast glacier to a height of 4,000m (about 13,000ft).
Since few Russians—or anyone else—live on glaciers, I can only think that the experiment had military overtones, or perhaps it was an " overkill " test to make sure the bus would cape with the rigours of normal Soviet winter services.
Vehicles have still not matched animals, however. The convoy was guided by IVIalsomed Ibragimov, "an experienced guide who took oxen laden with goods for a szientific expedition to the eastern summit of Elbrus. It was the first time a man had reached an altitude of 5,620m with animals."
And who am I to doubt it ?