One Mile Down: Siberian Scramble follows the dreams of two Irishmen who put together an international team to drive across the ice of Lake Baikal.
Motorbike adventure enthusiast, Declan McEvoy joins Laois thrill seeker, Gary O’Keeffe in leading the adventure back in February 2020.
The expedition drove for seven days across the frozen lake in the middle of a minus 40-degree Siberian winter, setting two Guinness World Records – The Longest Motorcycle Journey on Ice, and The Longest 4×4 Journey on Ice.
This compelling Irish produced feature documentary is to have its Network Television Premiere Thursday, August 31, at 10.10pm on RTÉ One.
Lake Baikal in Siberia is the deepest lake in the world. With a depth of over 1 mile and a length of 800km, it contains 20% of the world’s fresh water.
During the winter months the surface of the lake freezes over, leaving 800km of treacherously thin ice.
One crack or wrong move and you could suffer a very cold descent to the depths of this frozen abyss.
Since this expedition Lake Baikal hasn’t frozen safely due to global warming making it highly unlikely that this feat will ever be attempted again.
Over these seven days the team experiences severe cold, they laugh, cry and endure one of the most challenging adventures in their lives.
They also visit some of the most isolated and remote villages in Siberia, while meeting amazing people along the way.
For instance, they live with the local Buryat communities and experience the harsh and untamed severity of a Siberian winter.
Ultimately, after several setbacks and despite some growing discontent, the team must rely on their strong friendship and willpower to navigate across the treacherous ice and make it to the top of the massive Lake Baikal.
This film is the story of two determined Irishmen realizing their mutual dream, born out of curiosity and fueled by a passion for discovering the people and places in this vast world.
Many things have changed in the world since this expedition, the group managed to return from Siberia just days before COVID-19 shut down the entire world. Perhaps the more glaring change is the Russian-Ukrainian war.
On reflection of his time in Siberia, Gary spoke of the recent developments in Russia: “While this is not a political documentary, we as a group condemn the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“I think it is easy for us to think of Russia as inherently bad or evil but the reality is that the Russian citizens are not their leaders.
“I had the pleasure of meeting some lovely people, the regular, ‘real’ people of Russia who shared the same values as us.”
Executive produced by world renowned cinematographer (Long Way Round & Long Way Up, with Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor) and director (Race to Dakar and Chasing the Jet Stream) Claudio von Planta.
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