Tim Cope (1978) is an Australian adventurer, author, filmmaker, trekking guide, and public speaker who grew up in Gippsland, Victoria. He has learned to speak fluent Russian and specializes in countries of the former Soviet Union.
His most notable expeditions include riding horseback for three and a half years from Mongolia to Hungary (2004—2007) (see: Australian Completes Epic Genghis Khan Trek (BBC) The Independent UK The Age Australia Mount Everest), rowing a boat down the Yenisei River in Siberia to the Arctic Ocean (2001 with adventurers Ben Kozel, Colin Angus, and Remy Quinter) and riding a recumbent bicycle 10,000 km across Russia to Beijing (2000) with fellow Australian Chris Hatherly (see: Australian Geographic.)
Tim Cope and Chris Hatherly rode recumbent bikes from Petrozavodsk (Russia) to Beijing (China) from October 1999 to October 2000 ('Off the Rails: Moscow to Beijing by Bike', Penguin Books 2003, ISBN 978-0143005568).
Petrozavodsk to Babushkina
Tim and Chris set off from Petrozavodsk on the shore of Lake Onega in October 1999. They each loaded about 60 kg of equipment and food onto their bikes, and planned to average about 50 km travel each day. They survived on porridge, pasta, tomatoes and pryaniki (thick sweet biscuits). Night time temperatures were already below zero. They slept in a Finnish shelter called a loue, which is a light-weight tarp tent. When setup with 3 poles, a loue forms a half tee-pee. The inside of a loue is a silver reflective material, so that when a fire is lit on the open side, heat radiates over the occupants.
By the time they reached the village of Babushkina, about 550 km north-east of Moscow, night time temperatures had dropped to minus 20 celsius. They were very lucky to be invited for a meal by two friendly babushkas (Russian grandmothers) where Tim realised that he had frostbitten toes. The babushkas immediately took them to a medical clinic where Tim had his frostbitten flesh removed by the local doctor. Chris also had some flesh removed a few days later.
They were asked by the doctor to remain in Babuskina for 10 days for observation, during which they decided the pause their adventure until spring 2000. In early December 1999 they travelled by train to Finland where Tim, a few months earlier, had completed the International Wilderness Guide course (the first Australian to do so). Tim returned briefly to Russia to spend Christmas with his family who had travelled there to see him. Chris decided he would make a quick trip back to Australia to spend Christmas with his family!
In January they undertook a 4 week cross-country ski trip in the Khibiny Mountains, and in February they returned to Petrozavodsk to intensively study the Russian language for 6 weeks. They returned to Babushkina in mid March 2000, to be told that there was still 2 metres of snow in the forest. On the first day they only cycled for 1 hour before deciding to setup camp. Over the next few weeks the snow started to melt, but they encountered one very difficult 16 km stretch between the villages of Luptyug and Klyuchee, about 200 km east of Babushkina. It took them 2 days to force their way through the snow and slush, but once they'd made it their resolve to complete the adventure had greatly increased.
Babushkina to Kirov (Vyatka)
Tim and Chris had been riding for 16 days since Babushkina by the time they reached Kirov about 800 km north-east of Moscow. They decided to stay at the Hotel Vyatka for 2 nights to clean up and rest. They took their filthy bikes upstairs to their room ignoring the strong complaints of the landlady. It took 7 bathtubs of black water until all their clothes were clean.
He is the author of 'Off the Rails: Moscow to Beijing by Bike' (Penguin Books 2003 ISBN 978-0143005568), and director and cinematographer of 'Off the Rails: On the Back Roads to Beijing) ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC Australia and Beyond Distribution 2002)] . He also filmed 'the Yenisey Expedition,' co-produced by National Geographic Channel.
Most recently (November 2009) he directed and filmed a four hour program for ZDF and ARTE channels in Europe titled 'On the Trail of Genghis Khan' which received backing from Screen Australia This series was screened in Europe in February 2010 on German/French channel ARTE.
He is currently contracted to write a book for Bloomsbury in US and UK, and Allen and Unwin in Australia about his journey from Mongolia to Hungary. This is set to be released in 2011.
Tim's 6-part documentary series "The Trail of Genghis Khan" will premiere on ABC2 on Wednesday 28 July at 8pm. You can visit the ABC website here: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/geo/documentaries/interactive/trailofgenghis/
Tim's achievements have been recognized with accolades including:
'National Geographic Adventure Honoree 2008' recognizing Tim as "Cultural Ambassador who traced the journeys of Genghis Khan 6,200 miles across Mongolia to Hungary."
Australian Geographic Australian Adventurer of the Year 2006
Young Australian Adventurer of the year (2002)
Australian Geographic Spirit of Adventure Award (2001)
