Day Thirteen 10.08.2012 Ulaan Burgastain Pass

We wake to steady rain so pack inside the tent.  There is a small window of opportunity to get the tents down after we have breakfast under Sandag’s awning and sing “Happy Birthday” to Richard…he has remembered that yesterday was his birthday!

Our drive around White Lake takes us to the Khuun Chuluu, or Man Stones, that date back to the Turkic era of Mongolian history, some 4000 years ago.  There are burial mounds in this area also as well as stone circles and squares, some squares with standing stones at each corner.  We cross three mountain passes, each time regaining the steppe with herds of sheep, goats and yaks and mobs of horses with their attendant gers. 

It’s a long drive today so we stretch our legs by walking for 20 minutes or so along a beautiful lush valley.  We see the families going about their daily tasks, attending to stock, both on foot and horseback, collecting water, selling airac along the roadside and working around the ger.  We are met by two little girls who come running from their ger to say “hello.”  When we collect some treats together for them they are quickly joined by another little girl from a nearby ger camp.  Just as they are accepting their gifts, there is a cry from the family ger and a tiny girl comes running helter skelter and we have a few tears until she also has her wee hands full!  Then along comes big brother on his horse, and we need to find something for him as well. 

The wind is cool and beginning to whistle as we make a stop in an area where there are   Deer Stones, believed to be the ancient grave markers for warrior chiefs, and our long day ends in a forested area, not far from the main road and we can hear vehicles struggle up the hill as we make camp in what three years ago was an amazing wildflower field.  Today, probably because of the recent rains, the grass is long and the flowers not quite so obvious.  We are tired and emotional and settle in for a cold night.

Guinea pig 'cousin'

 

Herding the horses

Walking along the valley

Yak calf

Meeting the locals

Lunch with the bar-headed geese

Gone fishin'

Deer stone