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It had only been a few weeks since our camper trai

It had only been a few weeks since our camper trailer caught fire. It happened in Kyrgyzstan. If we were to continue the trip, we had to cross China just a few days after it happened as our Chinese visa was about to expire. We would head to Pakistan.

When we arrived in Pakistan we began to gather our thoughts about what we were going to do in terms of shelter, water, food, cooking, storage etc. This is something the trailer provided for us wherever we went. It was going to be sorely missed... 😢

Luckily we had a few tents still with us from Matt’s adventure business he runs. @mpadventurex He’d led a trip to Greenland soon after we departed on our journey. We still had everything he took with us on that trip with us. This is going to be our short term solution until we bring our trailer back to life. We thought we test it out here in the Sarfaranga Desert. ⛺️ A cold desert and one of the highest in the world.

@patriot.campers, the manufacturer of the trailer, are going to step up to support us with the rebuild, even though the fire had nothing to do with them. Legends 💪

We’ve also received a ton of support from our various communities around the world that we’re part of, for which we’re extremely appreciative and grateful. Friends and Family, Instagram, YouTube, The INEOS Forum, various Facebook groups plus many more. It’s this support that has allowed us to continue this journey. Without it, we would’ve had to make some very difficult decisions. 🙏

Setting up camp in Sarfaranga Desert in Pakistan.

Setting up camp in Sarfaranga Desert in Pakistan. It’s known as the Cold Desert and is one of the highest deserts in the world. ⛺️ 🇵🇰

Out in the Sarfaranga Desert, Pakistan, we stumble

Out in the Sarfaranga Desert, Pakistan, we stumbled across something a little unusual. A lone trike…

They grow up so fast, even when you’re with them

They grow up so fast, even when you’re with them almost all of the time… 😍

Our next YouTube video is now out! Click the link

Our next YouTube video is now out! Click the link in the @projectwildearth bio to watch and subscribe! 🎥

Episode 19 - Pakistan - a country often misunderstood and defined by what you see in the news. But up in the North of Pakistan, the noise fades, headlines disappear, and what’s left—is mountains that touch the sky, roads that test your nerves, and people who welcome you like family.

In the last episode, we had a massive fire in our trailer which we live in. After assessing the damage, we decided it was still safe to tow—so we made the journey from Kyrgyzstan to Pakistan via China. In this episode, we venture off the famous Karakoram Highway to one of the most isolated valleys in the Pakistan - Shimshal Valley. The road to get there is a real challenge and is known as one of the most dangerous roads in the world. There are no guardrails and no room for mistakes. It’s a narrow dirt track carved into the side of a mountain where one wrong move could be fatal. Before the track existed, it took villagers at least three days to reach the nearest town on foot, crossing three high mountain passes, some as high as 5,000 metres.

Our plan for the trailer was to get it repaired at the nearest @patriot.campers dealership in Mongolia. (@tic4x4andoutdoor) If you’re wondering why we didn’t just head straight there, stick around until the end of the video.

While most glaciers on Earth are shrinking, some g

While most glaciers on Earth are shrinking, some glaciers in Pakistan’s Karakoram Range are holding steady — and some are even expanding. 🤯 This is called the Karakoram Anomaly.

Here’s why:

- Heavy winter snow feeds the ice — the main reason these glaciers grow. ⛄️

- Cool, cloudy summers slow the melt, preserving winter gains. ☁️

- High-altitude glaciers stay frozen year-round, reducing ice loss. 🏔️

- Unique weather patterns — unlike the eastern Himalayas, the Karakoram sees little summer monsoon rain. ☔️

- Steep topography funnels ice and snow, aiding stability. 🏔️

- Thick rock blankets act like natural sunshields. 🪨

The result? More snow in, less melt out. 🧊

Yazghil Glacier, Pakistan 🇵🇰

Yazghil Glacier, Pakistan 🇵🇰

Shimshal Valley, Pakistan - One of the most remote

Shimshal Valley, Pakistan - One of the most remote valleys and deadliest roads in the world.

Single track.
Cliff edges.
No guardrails.
And if someone’s coming the other way… you’re reversing, hugging cliffs uphill around corners…

Snow blocks it 7–8 months a year.
Landslides are common
No room for error.

And if that wasn’t enough, raised high above the raging river are sketchy wooden suspension bridges built by the locals.

Here’s what it’s like inside the car…

Shimshal Valley, Pakistan 🇵🇰 - One of the mo

Shimshal Valley, Pakistan 🇵🇰 - One of the most remote valleys and dangerous roads in the world.

Single track.
Cliff edges.
No guardrails.
And if someone’s coming the other way… you’re reversing, hugging cliffs uphill around corners…

Snow blocks it 7–8 months a year.
Landslides are common
Sketchy wooden suspension bridges.
No room for error.

But if you make it…
You reach a valley like no other.
Towering peaks. Glaciers.
And a village that spent 18 years building this road — with no government help. Just grit, determination and perseverance. 💪

Is it worth it?
You decide.

First impressions of Pakistan 🇵🇰

First impressions of Pakistan 🇵🇰

“There is no passion to be found playing small a

“There is no passion to be found playing small and settling for a life that’s less than the one you’re capable of living“ - Nelson Mandela

The most beautiful things in life are not just thi

The most beautiful things in life are not just things. They’re people and places, memories and pictures, they’re feelings and moments and smiles and laughter…

A stunning day in Kyrgyzstan turned into a nightma

A stunning day in Kyrgyzstan turned into a nightmare when our trailer caught fire, leaving our dream in tatters. We’ve received a lot of questions about what happened. We’ll hopefully now answer a lot of those questions.

After putting the fire out, we headed to a nearby yurt camp to regroup. A few days later, we returned to the site. This is when we recorded the video. It goes into more detail about what actually happened.

We’d found a great lunch spot on the river. While chilli simmered, Matt and the kids played in the river, their laughter echoing off the rocks. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, a waterfall poured down from the top of trailer…

Leah: I thought it was water, then I smelled the fuel. Before I could shut off the gas, flames engulfed the whole trailer. I screamed for Matt.

Matt: I turned to see our home ablaze. My first thought was to make sure Leah and the kids were safe. They were crying, asking me to stay with them, but I couldn’t just watch it burn. I knew to fight the fire, I first had to remove the fuel sources. The trailer had a fuel bladder, three gas canisters, two lithium batteries, and the car was still hitched with more fuel.

I climbed onto the burning trailer, reminding myself there was no need to be a hero. Everyone was safe; this was just stuff. I tried unhooking the fuel bladder but the flames were too fierce and I burned my hand. I got one gas canister away, but the other big one was already black, engulfed in flames and ready to explode. Leah reminded me about our fire extinguisher—sadly it was useless —the fire was out of control.

The car was next, unhitching was brutal but I eventually drove it clear, lungs burning from smoke. Gasping, I took a moment to reassess.

Then, people appeared on the ridges, drawn by black smoke. They raced down to help, grabbing containers and filling them with river water. A man in a Russian truck brought a large extinguisher, but again, it did nothing. We continued to douse the trailer for over 15 minutes, prying it open to ensure the fire was out, hoping to prevent the lithium batteries from catching fire.

Staring at the smoldering wreckage, our lives upended. We had a lot to think about.

A stunning day in Kyrgyzstan turned into a nightma

A stunning day in Kyrgyzstan turned into a nightmare when our trailer caught fire, leaving our dream in tatters. After putting out the fire, we headed to a nearby yurt camp to regroup. A few days later, we returned to assess the wreckage. Despite the obvious damage, we concluded the trailer was still towable!

We had already cleared up everything on the day of the fire and so we set off for the nearest town, five hours away. The journey was heavy with memories of the trip so far and a nagging question: Are we really going to let it end like this? Despite a puncture en route, we arrived in town by late afternoon. Many of you are probably still wondering what actually happened. We’ll cover it on here shortly.. 🙏

With our China visa expiring soon, we had to decide within 24 hours what to do, as we were still quite far from the Chinese border. Sorting through charred belongings with a strong stench of fuel—especially the kids’ stuff—was gut-wrenching. It was something you only ever saw on the news and now, it was us. Still, this painful process was a step forward.

We emailed @patriot.campers , explaining our situation and looming deadline. The fire had nothing to do with their trailer, but they’d followed our journey and wanted to help. After reviewing the imagery we sent, they believed—that the trailer was actually repairable (yes you read that correctly) and offered parts if we could reach their nearest dealership in Mongolia. This was a massive lifeline, and we’re incredibly grateful for Justin and his team’s support. Our contingency funds couldn’t cover a disaster this big and still allow us to continue with any sort of decent cushion. We’d been torn between ending the trip, repairing the trailer in Kazakhstan, or continuing with outside help. Patriot’s support made the decision easier: we’d head to the Chinese border. The big question now: Would China let us in with a burned-out trailer?

The big question after the trailer fire was what a

The big question after the trailer fire was what are we going to do now? 🤔 While we thought about what to do, we continued our on with original plan and spent some time at the stunning Kel Suu Lake in Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬. Of all the places you could find yourself after such a disaster, this place was a fantasy land at 3500 metres. It feels like a lost world—hidden deep in the mountains of southeastern Kyrgyzstan near the Chinese border.

The name Kel Suu means “incoming water” in Kyrgyz, and it’s appropriately named—the glacial lake sometimes vanishes entirely underground, only to reappear when snowmelt feeds it again.

Why does it vanish? It’s what’s known as a karst lake—formed in a landscape of porous limestone riddled with underground channels and caves. When water levels are low (especially after dry seasons or during late Summer), much of the lake’s water drains away through cracks and sinkholes in the rock below.

These hidden channels act like a natural drain, sucking the lake underground where it continues to flow out of sight, feeding subterranean rivers. In Spring and early Summer, when snow from surrounding peaks melts, the inflow can exceed the drainage, and the lake fills again—sometimes dramatically within just a few weeks.

Even though we were really trying our best to enjoy and be present, our minds were still racing about all of the options on the table, including ending the trip entirely. Our dream to travel the world, that we worked so hard for and sacrificed so much literally went up in flames, First thing was first, we had to return to the site.

After our trailer caught fire, we decided to clean

After our trailer caught fire, we decided to clean up and then leave the trailer for a few days before returning. We had nowhere to sleep and the nearest town was five hours away and so we stuck to our original plan and headed to Kel Suu Lake in Kyrgyzstan. There was a yurt camp there and it was only an hour away. This would allow us to stabilise and decide what we were going to do next.

Our dream turned into a nightmare in seconds… W

Our dream turned into a nightmare in seconds…

We’d found a great lunch spot on the river. While chilli simmered, Matt and the kids played in the river, their laughter echoing off the rocks. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, a waterfall poured down from the top of trailer…

Leah: I thought it was water, then I smelled the fuel. Before I could shut off the gas, flames engulfed the whole trailer. I screamed for Matt.

Matt: I turned to see our home ablaze. My first thought was to make sure Leah and the kids were safe. They were crying, asking me to stay with them, but I couldn’t just watch it burn. I knew to fight the fire, I first had to remove the fuel sources. The trailer had a fuel bladder, three gas canisters, two lithium batteries, and the car was still hitched with more fuel.

I climbed onto the burning trailer, reminding myself there was no need to be a hero. Everyone was safe; this was just stuff. I tried unhooking the fuel bladder but the flames were too fierce and I burned my hand. I got one gas canister away, but the other big one was already black, engulfed in flames and ready to explode. The kitchen’s small canister was unreachable. Leah reminded me about our fire extinguisher—sadly it was useless —the fire was out of control.

The car was next, unhitching was brutal but I eventually drove it clear, lungs burning from smoke. Gasping, I took a moment to reassess.

Then, people appeared on the ridges, drawn by black smoke. They raced down to help, grabbing containers and filling them with river water. A man in a Russian truck brought a large extinguisher, but again, it did nothing. We continued to douse the trailer for over 15 minutes, prying it open to ensure the fire was out, hoping to prevent the lithium batteries from catching fire.

Staring at the smoldering wreckage, our lives upended, questions poured from the people around us: Are you okay? What now? Where will you stay? Etc

Overwhelmed, we needed some space. They respected that, leaving us to process. After hugs and counting our lucky stars that we were all ok, we decided to tidy the wreckage, secure the trailer, and drove to a yurt camp an hour away to regroup and plan our next steps.

After losing nearly 120L of water in just under an

After losing nearly 120L of water in just under an hour, and having three compartments in the trailer flood, we dried everything out, powered up the trailer, turned on the water pump and tried to find the source of the leak… ☀️

You won’t see many camp spots like this around t

You won’t see many camp spots like this around the world…🌍⛺️

This also happened to be the moment of truth for our trailer’s water and electrical system. After a rapid elevation change, we lost nearly 120L of water in just under an hour…

Water had flooded multiple compartments—including the electrics—so we’d dried everything out and were crossing our fingers it would all come back to life. 🤞

We needed the power to run the water pump so we could try to replicate the leak. And, having both systems back online again would be rather handy—especially being this remote, with a young family. But first we needed to find a water source to fill the tank back up!

We’d just lost 120 litres of water from the trai

We’d just lost 120 litres of water from the trailer in under an hour after a rapid ascent—flooding three compartments, one of them housing the electrics. With both our water and electrical systems in question, there was nothing to do but wait…

Our plan was to dry everything out, find a place to camp, and then power up the electrics in the morning and go from there.

We all live such busy lives these days. It’s eas

We all live such busy lives these days. It’s easy to lose sight of what really matters…

Wheelies and campfires! Great to have some quality

Wheelies and campfires! Great to have some quality family time.👌🔥

Any guesses where this might be?

Any guesses where this might be?

Great spot to chill for a bit on the way down from

Great spot to chill for a bit on the way down from the mountains in Kyrgyzstan. 🇰🇬

What do Bulls have to do with the conservation of

What do Bulls have to do with the conservation of Snow Leopards? Read on or watch to find out… 😊 🐆

Beyond the community based efforts we’d visited during our time in Kyrgyzstan that are aimed at supporting the Snow Leopard conservation effort, we also learned about the more innovative ideas Kuban, the Director of @snowleopard_kg has decided to have a go at. It was great to see this fail fast approach and willingness to give new ideas a go!

We also heard about Kyrgyzstan’s first microreserve, (@baiboosun.naturereserve) created and still managed by locals. Baatyr, who runs the @jaichy.agrotourism where we stayed, played a key role in its establishment. Since its inception, Snow Leopard and ibex populations have been growing within the reserve. He summed up nicely the importance of protecting Snow Leopards in his own words.

As we wrapped up this journey, it was clear to us that protecting the Snow Leopard isn’t just about saving a species—it’s about building a resilient future for both wildlife and the people who live alongside them. The local community must be involved.

Kuban and his team’s efforts are proof that conservation isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. It’s about understanding the unique challenges faced by each community and finding ways to help them thrive while preserving the environment.

Spanning 12 countries in Asia and over 40 years of

Spanning 12 countries in Asia and over 40 years of work, @SnowLeopardTrust focuses on protecting Snow Leopards through research, camera traps, and partnerships with local organisations and communities. The SLT is working directly with @snowleopard_kg, who are their local partners on the ground. Using this same model across this vast area, they’re helping to secure a future for the snow leopards and the local people.

Over the next few days we’d visit the neighboring villages to learn more about their community-based efforts.

Protecting this endangered species is in some ways more about the people that live alongside them then the actual animals themselves.

Kuban has served as the director of Snow Leopard Foundation-Kyrgyzstan for the last 20 years. He explained that gaining the trust and support of local communities can be challenging but without it you will fail.

But new challenges are emerging. Rising livestock numbers are leading to overgrazing, where too much vegetation is eaten and the land can’t regenerate. And there is possibly even a bigger threat to these communities and the snow leopards which is the increasingly unpredictable and extreme weather which makes it harder to sustain both herding practices and conservation efforts.

In response, Kuban and his team are working on introducing alternative income streams to reduce the reliance on traditional herding.

Some families have been given dehydrators so that they can dry fruit more efficiently and then sell it. Especially in the winter when it sells at a premium.

They are also training people in beekeeping. Not only is honey enjoyed throughout the country but Kyrgyzstan is also recognized internationally for their honey and the demand for it continues to increase.

In Ak Shirak, the women make traditional felt rugs and crafts that are sold world wide throught the SLT network.

The Snow Leopard plays a significant role in the e

The Snow Leopard plays a significant role in the ecosystem, far beyond its role as a predator. It helps maintain a delicate balance by controlling the populations of animals like ibex, Marco Polo sheep, and marmots.

Without the Snow Leopard, these species could overpopulate, leading to overgrazing and the destruction of vital plant life. This disruption could have a cascading effect, impacting other wildlife, water sources, and even local human communities who rely on the land’s resources.

In essence, the Snow Leopard isn’t just a predator—it’s a keystone species, meaning it plays a critical role in maintaining the health and stability of its entire ecosystem, ensuring that plants, animals, and people can thrive. Despite being at the top of the food chain the Snow Leopard faces numerous threats in the region, including mining, poaching, habitat loss, and human-wildlife conflict.

How do you protect a species that roams across vast areas of up to 1,000 square kilometers, in such remote and rugged landscapes? The answer might just surprise you.

People have lived with Snow Leopards for generations, but for years, this beautiful creature was seen as a threat. Herders lost their animals to the big cat. Livestock is their livelihood, so for the villagers, the solution seemed simple: the Snow Leopard had to go.

But the future of conservation is being reimagined, where it’s about creating solutions that work for both nature and the local communities. After all we are not separate from nature. We are a part of it. It was time to head back into civilization to meet up with Kubin, the Director of Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan. Things were about to get a whole lot sweeter.

For more info: @snowleopard_kg and @snowleopardtrust

Camera trap footage courtesy of Snow Leopard Foundation in Kyrgyzstan/Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic and Snow Leopard Trust

We were told it was a very long way and the scener

We were told it was a very long way and the scenery wasn’t worth the journey…🇰🇬

An epic journey to the home of the Snow Leopard in

An epic journey to the home of the Snow Leopard in Kyrgyzstan. Going as far as you can go by vehicle… 🇰🇬 Part three of three.

An epic journey to the home of the Snow Leopard in

An epic journey to the home of the Snow Leopard in Kyrgyzstan. Going as far as you can go by vehicle… 🇰🇬 Part two of three.

An epic journey to the home of the Snow Leopard in

An epic journey to the home of the Snow Leopard in Kyrgyzstan. Going as far as you can go by vehicle… 🇰🇬 Part one of three.

Part two of two: the journey to Ak Shirayk, a remo

Part two of two: the journey to Ak Shirayk, a remote village deep within the Sarychat-Ertash Nature Reserve — home to the highest concentration of snow leopards in Kyrgyzstan, and as far as you can go by vehicle.

We’d been in touch with the Snow Leopard Foundation Kyrgyzstan (@snowleopard_kg), planning a story on their incredible work — but first, we wanted to immerse ourselves in the environment.

They warned us: it’s a long way, the scenery’s not worth it, and it would be a serious challenge with a family and trailer.

Part one of two: the journey to Ak Shirayk, a remo

Part one of two: the journey to Ak Shirayk, a remote village deep within the Sarychat-Ertash Nature Reserve — home to the highest concentration of snow leopards in Kyrgyzstan, and as far as you can go by vehicle.

We’d been in touch with the Snow Leopard Foundation Kyrgyzstan (@snowleopard_kg), planning a story on their incredible work — but first, we wanted to immerse ourselves in the environment.

They warned us: it’s a long way, the scenery’s not worth it, and it would be a serious challenge with a family and trailer.

We’ll let you decide if it was worth it…

Our next YouTube video is now out! Click the link

Our next YouTube video is now out! Click the link in the @projectwildearth bio to watch and subscribe! 🎥

Episode 15 - Kyrgyzstan is one of those countries you have to see to believe. This tiny nation sure knows how to make an impression! With stunning landscapes, a fascinating nomadic culture, and surprises waiting at every turn.

The country’s terrain is primarily made up of the Tien Shan mountain range known as the “Heavenly Mountains” in Chinese. This mountain range covers 2500 km through Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, China, and Uzbekistan - and we were headed straight into the heart of these Celestial Mountains.

Come with us on our month-long journey through this incredible country in a three-part series. It’s an unforgettable adventure with twists and turns leading up to a disaster that could push us to our absolute breaking point.

We didn’t expect to find a landscape like this o

We didn’t expect to find a landscape like this out here—crisp air, a mirror-still lake, and snow capped mountains all around. It felt like a little piece of Scotland in the heart of Kyrgyzstan. 👌 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 🇰🇬

There is something special about being in the wild

There is something special about being in the wild…

Another set of mountain switchbacks, with a 4,000M

Another set of mountain switchbacks, with a 4,000M surprise waiting at the top. 😎 #adventure #overlanding #overland #travel #grenadier #roadtrip #mountains #offroad #landrover #kyrgyzstan #wildcamp #outdoors #wildcamping #overlandlife #mygrenadier #ineosgrenadier #patriotlife #projectwildearth

Take a minute to yourself for this relaxing drive

Take a minute to yourself for this relaxing drive through the mountains and valleys of Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬

Endless river crossings, curious yaks, and camping

Endless river crossings, curious yaks, and camping in some of the most unbelievable locations—each day taking us deeper into the Tien Shan Mountains. 🇰🇬 If Kyrgyzstan is on your list, don’t wait. It’s a real gem for adventure and overlanding, but it’s changing fast.

Making sure the winch still works on the Grenadier

Making sure the winch still works on the Grenadier! 👌

Another epic camp spot in Kyrgyzstan ⛺️🇰🇬 ☀️ You just have to remember the Sun goes down much earlier than you’re used to when camping near these mountains! 😅

Crossing Tosor Pass in Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬 (3893M

Crossing Tosor Pass in Kyrgyzstan 🇰🇬 (3893M or 12,772FT)

Leah wasn’t feeling well 🤒 and our plan was

Leah wasn’t feeling well 🤒 and
our plan was to climb higher. We’d set our sights on a remote valley but it was over a high mountain pass. (3893M or 12,772FT) The question we were asking ourselves was: Do we risk it and continue or turn back? 🤔

Only a few days in, and Kyrgyzstan has already mad

Only a few days in, and Kyrgyzstan has already made quite the first impression! 🇰🇬😎

First impressions of Kyrgyzstan… 🇰🇬🤯

First impressions of Kyrgyzstan… 🇰🇬🤯

Everyone said we were crazy - maybe we are! 😂 W

Everyone said we were crazy - maybe we are! 😂 We’ve just completed one year on the road, living in the wild with two toddlers! We quit our jobs and sold everything to make it happen… 27 countries and we’re just getting started!

We were almost out of fuel, and to get more, we’

We were almost out of fuel, and to get more, we’d need to cross one of the highest passes in the world and drive 135km in the wrong direction. This was all part of our original plan when we turned off the Pamir Highway for the Bartang Valley in Tajikistan. We knew we’d need to refuel somewhere, and—believe it or not—this was the best option! You have to be really careful about bad fuel quality in these parts. It can cause all sorts of issues, and there’s not much help at hand…

We had one last obstacle before rejoining the Pami

We had one last obstacle before rejoining the Pamir Highway—a sketchy looking bridge. We checked it first: broken planks, holes, and nails sticking out, but it seemed okay. With the water too high, there was no other way…

This was the final phase of our journey through th

This was the final phase of our journey through the Bartang Valley. While the epic landscapes and remote villages are unforgettable, it’s something else that really made the journey for us…

#adventure #roadtrip #overlanding #overland #offroad #pamirmountains #landrover #tajikistan #bartangvalley #mygrenadier #grenadier #ineosgrenadier #patriotlife #projectwildearth

Our next YouTube video is now out! Click the link

Our next YouTube video is now out! Click the link in the @projectwildearth bio to watch and subscribe! 🎥

Episode 14 - While most travelers come to Tajikistan to drive the Pamir Highway — the second-highest highway in the world — we may have just discovered an overlanding trail that rivals some of the best on the planet. It’s wild, remote, and feels frozen in time.

Known for its epic landscapes and isolated villages, the Bartang Valley is also notorious for its dangers — landslides, unpredictable rivers, and elevations above 4000 meters. This hidden gem of the Pamirs is not for the faint of heart, but for those who crave adventure, it’s an experience like no other. This is one adventure you don’t want to miss!

⚠️ Please note: This trail can be very dangerous and could easily be one of the hardest trails in the world if conditions are not in your favour. Approach with caution and be fully prepared.

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