Here's how you break the ice with some Mahindra Thars and Isuzu D-Max V-Cross 4x4s

17 Pages·2017·1.74 MB·English

Here’s how you break the ice with some Mahindra Thars
and Isuzu D-Max V-Cross 4x4s

I wasn’t sure of what to expect from an event titled ‘Fight the White‘. But
now that I have the story on my hands, I understand that it stands for a
heady mixture of craziness, fun, adventure and huge doses of adrenaline.
Only to be attempted by the most passionate of thrill seekers and 4×4
enthusiasts. Unless you fall in one or the other category, don’t even
bother undertaking a feat this enormous.
The Mahindra Thars stand tall even in the midst of the massive Isuzu D-
Max V-Cross 4x4s that dominate the snowy backdrop

With Akhil Ghai, from Miles Ahead Expeditions, leading the “Adrenaline”
pack, a fleet of five Isuzu D-Max V-Cross 4x4s and two Mahindra Thars
set out from Delhi on January 25, 2016. A 5am departure from a freezing
cold Delhi set the ball rolling. It promised only to get colder as the day
wore on. Traversing through Chandigarh, Solan and finally reaching a
completely snow cladded Narkanda at 1.30pm, the ‘Fight the
White’ convoy had come into its own.
The ‘Fight the White’ convoy makes its way through snow, storm and
slush
Akhil Ghai, team lead, and man of the hour on the ‘Fight the White’ drive

Akhil Ghai (team lead) and Srikanth (team sweep) said that “tarmac only
does so much for the soul. It is not until you get a 4×4 in its elements,
that you get a true sense of joy!” I guess the cold and snow at Narkanda
were the icing on the cake for this fleet of enthusiasts. What awaited them,
as they sat around the evening bonfire, trading stories and experiences,
was the thought of Jeep Country for the next two days. As Akhil further
elaborated, the thunder gods decided to add to the drama, with a snow
storm throughout the night adding a fresh layer to complete the challenge.
The ‘Fight the White’ meal sessions where all the 4×4 snow driving
stories are exchanged and the onslaught for the next day is planned
A tiny Tricolour perched proudly above one of the Mahindra Thars in the
expedition through the snow

After a hot cup of tea and a steaming breakfast on Republic Day, they got
the entire fleet pointed towards Sara Meadows. Something special was
planned as a Republic Day tribute by the Miles Ahead team. With Srikant
bringing up the convoy sweep to ensure that everyone stayed together,
Akhil barged on with his Isuzu ‘Bulldozer’. If this track was not a
testament to the vehicle that Isuzu has built, it will take a rare moment to
find another.
Those lovely prints in the snow
The convoy makes its way through heavy snow, fallen trees and rutted
tracks

Now, opening a snowed in track is not an easy job! This is where the entire
group of participants learnt that to ‘Fight the White‘ required equal time
behind the 4×4 shifter and the manual shovel, alternating as required. The
Ski Resort sent Sanjeev Dogra along in a rescue vehicle fitted with a
winch to ensure that no one got stuck as they attempted to grind their way
through heavy snow, rutted tracks and fallen trees.
The Great White makes for a dramatic background for the Isuzu D-Max
V-Cross 4x4s and the Mahindra Thars
Sometimes the light is just right to catch sights like this – beams from four
powerful lamps of the Mahindra Thar penetrate the fog

Three fallen trees, tons of snow shoveled, slipping and sliding vehicles,
4×4 low crawling and an investment of 6 hours was all it took to cover the
6km distance to the Sara Meadows summit. Now in rallying or F1
parlance, this is a pedestrian pace at best. For 4×4 aficionados, ‘not bad’
is the verdict! Taking a look at the challenges that nature was tossing in,
‘not bad’ at all. And now for the special Republic Day celebration: Fresh
snowfall, hot Biryani (cooked in the open), and the National Anthem sung
with full vigor after a day well spent enjoying what our great republic has
to offer.