On Monday, July 4, we rode from Ulgii to Darihan Nuur (nuur = lake) in Altai Tavan Bogd National Park located along the Chinese border. traveling through the towns of Buyant and Altay (also called Chihertei on some maps). The camp was just a few kilometers west of Altay on the north bank of the river flowing from the lake. (Our itinerary referred to this lake as the Chihertei, presumably because it was so close to the town of Altay/Chihertei.)

Shortly after leaving Ulgii, we stopped by a nomadic camp along the main road, where the herdsmen gave us a horse-breaking show . Not long after leaving the rodeo, Joe Laumer was injured and had to return to Ulgii and UB. Joe departed shortly after lunch, and the remaining riders headed to Buyant. The final approach to Buyant required a descent down a steep ravine masquerading as a vehicle track. Part way down the ravine, a truck was stalled in the middle of the ravine. The only way down was to slip (slowly!) between the steep side of the ravine and the truck. Needless-to-say, there was no opportunity to capture the moment in pictures. Apparently, it's common for under-powered trucks to ascend the track until the engine overheats and then wait until the engine cools down.

The family who set up the temporary ger camp were also eagle hunters. The family engaged others to help them set up the camp, and retained one ger for themselves. The patriarch left camp the next day with his two eagles for another engagement. For readers interested in the difference between a ger and a yurt--and how they are set up--see the next entry.

July 5 was a rest day at the lake camp, which most of us spent catching up on sleep, riding horses, or exploring the local area. The next day (Wednesday, July 6, we returned to Ulgii and the Duman Hotel over the same tracks we used getting to Darihan Lake.

Google Maps link to Darihan Lake ger camp:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=48.26448,89.35236&ll=48.264