CAMPING next to a GLACIER in GEORGIA! 🇬🇪 - Australia to Scotland by road - Episode 85

From the ancient mountain top village of Ushguli we head north and further up the towering valley to the glacier head.
When we crossed the pass we had seen a few tracks leading off which were potential camp options though we thought we should check the glacier first. The road up the valley from the village criss-crosses through the river before opening onto wide open grazing plains along the valley floor. As we drive down the centre of the valley along the two tyre tracks we pass cows, horses, and returning friendly locals loaded with grass for the winter stockpiles.
The track deteriorated into mud and small scrub as the valley narrowed. We had heard that it was impassable though we thought we’d give it a go regardless. We find a lot of these reviews are made by people with less capable vehicles and experience. In this instance that proved correct again. Nevertheless that didn’t stop Jolie getting a bit overwhelmed and walking the last section which saw a steep backward climb up and onto a small plateau. The surface was loose and it had an off camber though the Troopy gobbled it up and we found ourselves on top of a beautiful meadow with one of the best campsite views to date. This was a view too good to pass up so we set up camp right there and got settled in. The glacier we planned to walk to is the Shkhara Glacier which falls from the 12km long ridge of the Bezengi massif. This massif and the range it is a part of also provides the border with Goergia’s northern neighbour Russia. Just like neighbours they see far from eye to eye and are not on talking terms. (They’re definitely not out to make friends at the moment!).The following morning after a very tranquil sleep we dig out the hiking gear and start off towards the glacier. From the camp spot it looked like a rather easy path through the long grass down to the head, not the case. While it didn’t get difficult, it wasn’t the dreamy stroll through the meadows we had thought as the path led steeply down to the river. We passed over large rocks fields, through long grass, over crystal clear streams, under branches of densely packed tress before we arrived at the glacier field. The vegetation stopped and we walked the last hundred metres over loose rock and what appeared to previously be the glacier. We have walked over glaciers while in Nepal, some of them several hundred meters wide, though due to our altitude there we never stood at the head of one. With the midday sun now belting down on the already sunburnt face of the glacier the noise and movement is quite daunting. Rocks continuously fall from high and small waterfalls form across the 20m high face. We have a break, a snack, take in the enormity of it all and then start our trek back to the Troopy.
Heading back down the valley we pass through Ushguli again, grab a souvenir from two lovely little local girls in a roadside stall, and hit the ‘main road’ towards Mestia. From Mestia the road down and out of the valley climbs and falls along each side of the valley, crisscrossing the river, in and out of hand cut tunnels for the entire afternoon. After dodging a nations worth of farm animals we make it to our camp spot for the night by another hot spring. Like the past one this is a dilapidated Soviet health spa though now very popular with the locals. The spring bubbles down off a small overgrown plateau into a sulphurous white waterfall than combines with a fast flowing deep emerald green river. After travelling through Muslim countries for so long it was a bit of a shock to see so many local girls swimming in bikinis with the men. As it was quite busy we decided to set up instead and jump in in morning before the crowds arrived. That’s it for this episode, join us in the next to see if we have more luck crossing into Turkey.Thanks for watching.
J&M

[@AshleyPearceImages]

I think I keep saying..the cinemaphotography just keeps getting better and better guys! 🤙👍

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks Ashley. 👍🏻

[@almamdani6564]

Those children were so precious. God Bless them !

[@aliiftikhar7756]

This content is underrated, and underwatched (if that's even a word)

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers!

[@GoingTheWholeHogg]

Whoa, what a stunner of a camp! I know how Jolie feels on those dodgy tracks, I always get out and walk too 😅

[@TheWayOverland]

Haha 🤣 No trust!

[@thisneurodiverselife]

Wow, just wow! That scenery was out of this world. You two are really living your dream. One Life, One Search, Shane

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers Shane

[@lukaslinhart77]

Really a spectacular scenery! Great shots, also the drone footage! Cheers!

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers, those mountains in Georgia are incredible!

[@warrenvanzetti5123]

Absolutely beautiful. Thank you

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks

[@rainey06au]

Is Jolie normally the go-to drone pilot? Top notch content yet again dudes! Amazing how beautiful our world is when you get out and explore beyond a travel brochure! Sensational!

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers, and yeah that's it, plenty of incredible places off the beaten path! Jolie does the majority of selfie talks, I do the drone and b-roll. When they're driving drone shots, Jolie drives which she likes as they're usually some fun tracks to tackle (like the pass in the previous ep).

[@stevestott1514]

Awesome looking area loved that spectacular camping spot with those views . Also Looked like a great little vender both that the kids were running . Always love visiting local vender boths when Traveling . Cheers to another great travel video From you two . Cheers from Steve Stott in Sutherlin Oregon U.S.A. :):)🥂👍🏼😁

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks Steve, yeah they were pretty savvy little operators. It's a shame we don't have more space in the Troopy to put more souvenirs, thankfully we've got the videos. 🙂

[@stevestott1514]

@@TheWayOverland .. yes videos sure safe on space and show what you could never buy because of space in a rig . So give you awesome memories of beautiful travel memories . Of a places couture . Cheers you two for some awesome memories of places I now need to visit . Thanks from Steve Stott in Sutherlin Oregon U.S.A. 😁

[@chadhaugen-leathertech4848]

Awesome!

[@richardevans2534]

Gonna be there this summer. Brilliant insight into what to expect

[@TheWayOverland]

Enjoy!

[@amadsaleem8949]

What an epic spot you guys found.... Heaven on earth.

[@bepe3643]

Superb Video. Love it.

[@TheWayOverland]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@theo.r.bitter]

What a scenery. Georgia's put up a fabulous showing for you two. And your video editing and story telling has improved leaps and bounds since coming back from the involuntary hiatus. It's an absolute joy to follow along on your journey.

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers, and thanks for the feedback! 👍🏻

[@dantheman6159]

This is some amazing scenery Mark and Jolie. You are living it up for sure 😄

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks Dan! 🙂

[@travellersnestoverland]

Just beautiful. What glacier camping spot must beat it, for sure. Love from PNG. Ro

[@OliveiraCasca]

I haven’t watched you since Malaysia some 3 years ago, glad to know that you’re still on (and off) the road! Cheers and safe travels!

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers! A lot has happened in those 3 years!

[@OliveiraCasca]

@@TheWayOverland sure:) for some unknown reason youtube stopped notifying me about your journey, now I have a lot to catch up! Keep up the great content and amazing landscapes, you are really living The Dream:)

[@unknownperson8070]

Great one mate 👍

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks 👍

[@Onward4x4]

Georgia is gorgeous! I was in Gorelovka in 2019 and it was just stunning! Folks in Tbilisi are a bit unkind to (non-white) foreigners but in the countryside, people are just awesome.

[@jamesmazurstudios]

As I sit here having coffee off-grid on a mountain in Costa Rica I dream of my own Troopie build, VDJ78, scheduled for 2025. My plan is to do what you are doing now. Thank you for the motivation. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@TheWayOverland]

No worries, should be a good build with all that planning time! Enjoy that cafe!

[@samri4192]

I like 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@TheWayOverland]

👍🏻

[@colinross6259]

Bloody awesome scenery, being a cold weather sook would hate to be there in the winter. Bummer lost that time to covid, and have to skip places, that's the way it goes.

[@TheWayOverland]

Yep, not sure how enjoyable it would be peak winter!

[@ahmedalshargi9687]

Nice , you are beautiful and have a nice personality

[@rahalatinet2386]

Nice adventure, thanks for sharing. What are the logistics to get to Georgia using your own overland car?

[@TheWayOverland]

No worries, there's many logistical options, we opted for the 'drive-yourself' option. Would recommend!

[@a.a.s93]

amazing camp sports you find Guys, can you give us the secret how

[@TheWayOverland]

Mostly Google maps, in this part of the world though it's hard to find good spots which aren't digitally marked on some form of mapping app.

[@Hugues.L]

But when was this shot ? You say they are preparing for winter ? So you filmed that in 2021 ?

[@TheWayOverland]

Yep, that’s it.

[@peteregan3862]

With 'winter' coming - you made this trip in second half of 2021??

[@TheWayOverland]

Correct.

[@johndiaz7240]

The old saying “ Youth is wasted on the Young” does not apply to you two .

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers John, have to move while we can.