Land Rover makes record journey across Bering Strait

Posted Mon Aug 25 2008 12:49 PM by Nelson Ireson

A UK man has set a record as the first to cross the Bering Strait in a land vehicle. Deciding to tackle the problem in a unique way, Steve Burgess decided that instead of attempting to cross the icebridge that forms across the water in winter, he'd wait for it to melt and float across. That decision took him from the ranks of those who've attempted and failed and put him in the record books.

Floating a Land Rover across the Bering Strait might seem an impossible task, but with the aid of a pair of gigantic floats, an engine and propeller, the 53-year-old Brit made it safely across the 56mi (89.6km) stretch of open water. The Land Rover was stripped of everything but the essentials to make it as light as possible for the crossing. The trip was made longer, however, as Burgess was forced to take refuge part way across on the isle of Little Diomede due to weather conditions. Once the weather had cleared several weeks later, he continued on his way and finished the trip from Russia to Alaska, reports the UK's Examiner.

Ecstatic at having succeeded where so many before him had failed, Burgess nevertheless left the door open for subsequent challengers to claim the fastest trip across the strait in a land vehicle due to his extended stay on Little Diomede.

Burgess, however, won't be doing it again, he says. The epic 10,379mi (16,606km) journey took 50 days through some of the harshest, most remote environments on earth. Despite the difficult conditions, he attributes his success to excellent tires from Cooper Tires and the Land Rover itself, which made the whole trip across land and sea with only a support vehicle to carry its floats the final 2,500mi (4,000km) from Yakutsk to the Bering Strait.

Reader Comments

Mon Aug 25 2008 12:53 PM
mlevere1992 says

Try that, Top Gear!
Tue Aug 26 2008 6:56 AM
craigs says

Mlevere1992,

I'm sure they will but it will sink, break down, explode or simply fail unless the STIG gives it a try! :-)
Tue Aug 26 2008 8:44 AM
mlevere1992 says

craigs,

It would be quite a production for TG. 50 Days! Holy crap. But the guy that did it was a Brit. What is it with Brits and them doing kooky things like this?

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