#wandering steppes

[trailsmith]

Nokhoi Zeekh: in search of wolverine.

Five Americans set off on a month-long ski expedition through northern Mongolia in search of one of the world's least-known carnivores, the wolverine. The journey takes them into a remote mountain ecosystem, where they encounter Mongolian herders and Tuvan reindeer people, gather DNA samples for research, and attempt to bridge the worlds of science, conservation, and outdoor adventure.

[trailsmith]

Birding in Mongolia.

Gary Howard's amazing blog posts and photos of a birding trip in Mongolia

Rock Thrush

[trailsmith]

Oyu Nuur.

Oyu Nuur, Turquoise Lake, was formed by a massive landslide resulting from an earthquake in 1957. Accessible only on foot (horse or camel), it lies in the heart of the Ikh Bogd Mountain range in the Gobi Desert, Bayankhongor Aimag.

Photo: Orso Bayarsaihan

[trailsmith]

Khermen Tsav.

Khermen Tsav lies deep in the Gobi, well off the beaten tourism track, spectacular desert scenery and dinosaur fossil deposits.

Photo: Bayar

[trailsmith]

Mongolia's Nomads: Life on the Steppe.

Mongolian pastoral herders make up one of the world's last remaining nomadic cultures. For millennia they have lived on the steppes, grazing their livestock on the lush grasslands.

More photo's and link to book Mongolia's Nomads

[trailsmith]

Only 45 Gobi Bears remain in the wild.

Mongolia Strives to Save Gobi Bear by Michael Hanan

[trailsmith]

Mongolia Exploration Photography | Hamid Sardar.

Hamid Sardar Photography

Hamid has filmed and photographed extensively in the Mongolian Taiga, in all seasons. A talented linguist he speaks both Mongolian and Tuvan (the language of the Tsaatan reindeer herders) fluently, allowing him unprecedented access and deep insights into Tsaatan culture and the taiga landscape.

[trailsmith]

Traditional Skiing in Mongolia.

Excerpt from Hamid Sardar's film on the ski tradition among Mongolia's Tsaatan Reindeer Herders.