Tim Cope
Encyclopedia
Tim Cope 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.
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.)
Petrozavodsk
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.
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.
and cinematographer
of http://www.abc.net.au/documentaries/programs/2000/offtherails.htm'Off the Rails: On the Back Roads to Beijing) (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" premiered on Australian TV channel ABC2 on Wednesday 28 July 2010. You can visit the ABC website here: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/geo/documentaries/interactive/trailofgenghis/
This documentary is now available as an ABC DVD, as is his documentary 'Off the Rails'.
s including:
{See:History of Adventure Awards}
(See: http://www.mountainfilm.com/en/2010/gewinner/)
(See: http://www.timcopejourneys.com/page/journeys/on-the-trail-of-ghengis-khan/}
Gippsland
Gippsland is a large rural region in Victoria, Australia. It begins immediately east of the suburbs of Melbourne and stretches to the New South Wales border, lying between the Great Dividing Range to the north and Bass Strait to the south...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
. He has learned to speak fluent Russian and specializes in countries of the former Soviet Union.
Adventures
His most notable expeditions include riding horseback for three and a half years from MongoliaMongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
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
Yenisei River
Yenisei , also written as Yenisey, is the largest river system flowing to the Arctic Ocean. It is the central of the three great Siberian rivers that flow into the Arctic Ocean...
in Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
to the Arctic Ocean
Arctic Ocean
The Arctic Ocean, located in the Northern Hemisphere and mostly in the Arctic north polar region, is the smallest and shallowest of the world's five major oceanic divisions...
(2001 with adventurers Ben Kozel
Ben Kozel
Ben Kozel is an adventurer, author and film maker, born in South Australia.With friend Colin Angus and Scott Borthwick of South Africa, Kozel journeyed the length of the Amazon River in 1999-2000....
, Colin Angus
Colin Angus
Colin Angus may refer to:* Colin Angus , Canadian explorer* Colin Angus , member of the British electronic music group The Shamen...
, and Remy Quinter) and riding a recumbent bicycle
Recumbent bicycle
A recumbent bicycle is a bicycle that places the rider in a laid-back reclining position. Most recumbent riders choose this type of design for ergonomic reasons; the rider's weight is distributed comfortably over a larger area, supported by back and buttocks...
10,000 km across Russia to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
(2000) with fellow Australian Chris Hatherly (see: Australian Geographic.)
Recumbent Bike Ride Across Russia
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). PetrozavodskPetrozavodskPetrozavodsk is the capital city of the Republic of Karelia, Russia. It stretches along the western shore of the Lake Onega for some . The city is served by Petrozavodsk Airport. Municipally, it is incorporated as Petrozavodsky Urban Okrug . Population:...
to Babushkina
Tim and Chris set off from Petrozavodsk on the shore of Lake OnegaLake Onega
Lake Onega is a lake in the north-west European part of Russia, located on the territory of Republic of Karelia, Leningrad Oblast and Vologda Oblast. It belongs to the basin of Baltic Sea, Atlantic Ocean, and is the second largest lake in Europe after Lake Ladoga...
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
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, 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 KirovKirov
-People:*Nikolay Kirov , Soviet track and field athlete*Sergey Kirov , Bolshevik revolutionary and a Soviet communist-Things named after Sergey Kirov:*Kirov Plant, St. Petersburg, Russia...
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.
Books and Films
He is the author of 'Off the Rails: Moscow to Beijing by Bike' (Penguin Books 2003 ISBN 978-0143005568), and directorFilm director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
and cinematographer
Cinematographer
A cinematographer is one photographing with a motion picture camera . The title is generally equivalent to director of photography , used to designate a chief over the camera and lighting crews working on a film, responsible for achieving artistic and technical decisions related to the image...
of http://www.abc.net.au/documentaries/programs/2000/offtherails.htm'Off the Rails: On the Back Roads to Beijing) (ABC Australia
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
and Beyond Distribution 2002)] . He also filmed 'the Yenisey Expedition,' co-produced by National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel
National Geographic Channel, also commercially abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo, is a subscription television channel that airs non-fiction television programs produced by the National Geographic Society. Like History and the Discovery Channel, the channel features documentaries with factual...
.
Most recently (November 2009) he directed and filmed a four hour program for ZDF
ZDF
Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen , ZDF, is a public-service German television broadcaster based in Mainz . It is run as an independent non-profit institution, which was founded by the German federal states . The ZDF is financed by television licence fees called GEZ and advertising revenues...
and ARTE
Arte
Arte is a Franco-German TV network. It is a European culture channel and aims to promote quality programming especially in areas of culture and the arts...
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" premiered on Australian TV channel ABC2 on Wednesday 28 July 2010. You can visit the ABC website here: http://www.abc.net.au/tv/geo/documentaries/interactive/trailofgenghis/
This documentary is now available as an ABC DVD, as is his documentary 'Off the Rails'.
Recognition
Tim's achievements have been recognized with accoladeAccolade
In the Middle Ages, the accolade was the central act in the rite-of-passage ceremonies conferring knighthood.-Ceremony:...
s including:
- 'National Geographic Adventure Honoree 2008' recognizing Tim as "Cultural Ambassador who traced the journeys of Genghis KhanGenghis KhanGenghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
6,200 miles across Mongolia to Hungary." - Australian GeographicAustralian GeographicThe Australian Geographic is a quarterly geographical magazine-style journal created by Dick Smith in 1985. It focuses mainly on stories about Australia, or about Australian people in other countries...
Australian Adventurer of the Year 2006 - Young Australian Adventurer of the year (2002)
- Australian Geographic Spirit of Adventure Award (2001)
{See:History of Adventure Awards}
- Best Adventure Film award for his film 'Off The Rails' at the Mountain and Adventure Film Festival, Graz, Austria in 2002.
- Special Prize of the Jury' for his film 'The Trail of Genghis Khan', at the 22nd Graz Mountain and Adventure Film Festival in 2010.
(See: http://www.mountainfilm.com/en/2010/gewinner/)
(See: http://www.timcopejourneys.com/page/journeys/on-the-trail-of-ghengis-khan/}