Polish adventurer Mateusz Waligora is returning to the Gobi Desert in Mongolia next month. Waligora plans to fat bike from the Altai region in Western Mongolia to the city of Sainshand in the East. The 1,400km journey starts in February when temperatures can drop to -30°C.
In 2018, Waligora walked 1,785km across the Mongolian part of the Gobi while pulling a cart. He has previously climbed Everest from sea level and skied solo to the South Pole via the Hercules Inlet route. His Instagram profile reads, “True adventures, no insta bullshit.”
Winters in the Gobi desert can be cold but also snowless. In anticipation, Waligora will be carrying 21 liters of water in insulated flasks to enable him to beeline between known rivers, streams, and wells. The Pole estimates he will have a range of about five days between water sources, assuming he can keep his flasks unfrozen through regular heating.
Crossing cracked ground in the Gobi Desert. Photo: Mateusz Waligora
Fuel challenge
The heating part may be a challenge, as Waligora plans to carry large quantities of butane or butane-propane — which doesn’t work well in the cold — due to reported difficulties in accessing white gas or clean fuel in Mongolia. His solution is to heat the canisters before use via a heated cover connected to a power bank.
Last time in the Gobi, Waligora suffered punctures to his cart almost daily, and he is not relishing the difficult task of removing tires stiffened and shrunken by the cold.
“If I get a flat, the only option will be to use a blowtorch to heat the tire,” says the resourceful Pole. He has also had to source the largest platform pedals on the market, to cater for his size 16.5 (U.S.) winter boots.
Waligora’s fat bike and trailer. Photo: Mateusz Waligora
Waligora will carry his food, clothing, and equipment in large panniers, a frame bag, a handlebar bag, and a modified single-wheel Extrawheel trailer. He expects the journey to take between 30-35 days.
