I still can't believe it.. I actually made it to the Kaukasus last winter. One of my things on my to do list was wintervanlife. I like challenging myself and this experience felt crazy. The temperatures can be very extreme and it was still an experiment, I didn't know if I could keep my van warm When I went here, the coldest nights where -16 degrees Celsius. I must say: I was afraid to go, but it didn't stop me.
I will either regret doing it, or I will regret not doing it: Spending winter in the Caucasus, in my van, on a parking lot
Welcome in New Gudauri
I picked the most popular mountain area "Gudauri", as the internet is good (digital nomad life) and it is along the Military highway to Russia, known to be a good road with very little snow. Plenty of trucks drive there, so my van should be able to reach Gudauri without any problems.
I prepared well compared to how unwell I usually prepare. I had 150 Liter of fresh water with me and 10 liter of Diesel to heat my van. I knew the roads would be good, there will be a gas station near, the internet was good & there was a hostel next door in case I needed a shower but would be too much of a girl and unable to take an outdoor shower. I was nervous for this trip. Spending 3 weeks in the Caucasus in winter... I must be crazy!
All the surrounding mountains were covered in a thick layer of snow
I arrived and found a good spot to park, with good internet connection, not many people around and the parking lot had a stunning view! I was in love and so excited: I MADE IT. I MADE IT TO THE F*CKING GREATER CAUCASUS!! I felt proud of my van. It brought me to the furthes corners of Europe, reaching even the Asian continent. That the parkinglot was a bit muddy on sunny days? I didn't care. I was stoked that I made it here
Soon, the snow fell and the mud was all gone
Welcome to the parkinglot, there were I Barely survived 3 weeks
Pancakes everyday And I obviously don't clean my windows everyday
Look at those stunning mountains full of fresh powder & Fresh trails
Let's take a shower but make it vanlife
I must say: Showering on a freezing but sunny day is not so bad, I put my solarshower in the window the car works as a greenhouse, warming up my water nicely warm. When the sun isn't out, it''s a bit harder I must say. I did meet some people who offered me a hot shower for the freezing cold snowstorm days (I thank them with all my heart)
My snowboard is multi-purpose: It helps me to shower while my legs aren't knee-deep in the snow while they are slowly freezing off
Vanlife is a beautiful life bringing me to the most beautiful corners of the world, I am proud I made it, I am proud how I have dealt with all the discomforts and the discomforts are all worth it
An ordinary walk around the village looks like this
That's just me looking so proud of keeping my van cosy & warm in the freezing nights of the Caucasus, I installed my diesel heather on a parking lot and it was the best investment ever. Normal people my age look at positive pregnancy tests the way I look at the results of my diesel heather
Walking over the Military Highway from New Gudauri to Old Gudauri, the road that connects Georgia with Russia. It makes me realize how far I made it from the Netherlands, almost to Russia
If I look back at all the adventures I have had in my life, from which I have lived over 2 years in my van, this was one of the craziest. It all started figuring out how a drill actually worked and a naive girl saying ''I am going to covert this van into a home and live in it'' to actually making it work and surviving in the Caucasus. I am so thankful and proud!
Regards, Sascha