Protyre News

We’re catching up with adventure bloggers Ed Holford-Walker and John Horsfall. They popped into Micheldever Tyres - Team Protyre last month to get the most vital piece of kit for their journey…some new tyres!

Setting off in April the team reached Turkey on day 10 of their trip.

The most important part of their day began with the complicated (and expensive!) process of applying for an Iranian Visa. The rest of the day was spent exploring the city, however due to a local holiday all they could do was embrace the local culture with tea, kebabs and…French Jazz? The hostel was right next to a Jazz bar where the pair, along with a friend of Ed’s who had travelled out to meet them to supply them with repairs for the broken Ski from a few days back, spent their evening before preparing for their next big ski.

After driving for about 6 hours John and Ed set up camp in the Turkish countryside on the side of a dirt track near a quarry before making their way into Erzurum for their first leg of Asian skiing.
Sadly, the duo discovered that most of the snow had left the slopes of Erzurum and explored the dirt tracks left in its wake before being relocated by the local guard as the resort was obviously closed. As a thunderstorm rolled John and Ed decided to leave the mountainside, but to their dismay their poor car couldn’t handle the 45 degree slopes and the brakes failed leaving them in need of a mechanic. Being a Sunday everywhere was closed putting the trip on hold.

Pressing on in the morning the adventurers crossed the Iranian border and headed straight for Mount Arat the legendary resting place of Noahs Ark. In 2007 a team of explorers claim to have found seven large wooden compartments buried at 13,000 feet (4,000 meters) above sea level, near the peak of Mount Ararat. Many Christians believe Mount Arat is the final resting place of Noah's ark, which the Bible says protected Noah, his family, and pairs of every animal species on Earth during a divine deluge that wiped out most of humanity.
John and Ed climbed till the road ran out where they came across a shepherd with his flock who waved them down and invited them into his make shift home. Greeted to tea and scrambled egg the group communicated with sign language and big smiles which somehow translated into an understanding.

“These are the rare moments of spontaneity that make travelling the back roads worthwhile”

In Iran after checking out their famous bazaar John and Ed skied Sabalan Mountain then did some off the beaten track exploring where they came across a castle ruin to explore before visiting the ruin of the Qal'Eh Rudkhan. The amazing castle ruin is a military complex which had been constructed during the Sasanian era (224-651). Getting to it was no easy feat with elevations of up to 715 metres into the Gilan Hills.

On the way to Dizin, the town of Kalardasht, the pair observed that a large number of Iranian people have the same style tent and love having picnics by the side of the road even if it’s beside a motorway or industrial factory!

Soldiering on up the mountain the road changed from tarmac, to dirt road, to stoney pot hole filled tracks. Luckily their General Tire – Grabber AT3 tyres were built for these dramatic terrain changes and they steadily worked their way further up the mountain until they reached a no entry sign. Taking a detour up a smaller toad where not many cars could get to, the pair set up camp for the night.

“the views are just incredible. Iran’s landscapes are so varied. From rice fields to deserts, beaches to snow cap mountains”

Closing the third week of their trip, a day that the skiing adventurers had been waiting for arrived….skiing the Dizin ranges of Iran. The weather had been questionable but they were joined by another adventurer skiers @saraskiforever and Iman, plus their guide for the day Meysam Seyd @meysamtouring. With a donkey helping to carry their kit the team set off from the resort on the mountain. The snow started at around 3000m and crossed icy rivers and streams. After a couple of hours trekking they reached a shepherds hut and began the ski up and down the mountain.

You can follow their progress on www.johnhorsfall.org or via social media on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube!

Are you ready for your next adventure?

Get your car in ship shape condition with your local Protyre ready to take on your next adventure however big or small