Gachuurt - Terelj two places where I've been. 30km separate them. weather slightly warmer. A group of people in search of challenge. a group of people with too much energy to kill. A group of people with the need of getting out of the city. the cocktail was perfect. The challenge was raised. Get a bus to Gachuurt 9sort of north-east of UB) then walk to Terelj national park, the town and next day walk to the Turtle rock, then catch the bus somewhere on the way back to UB (all of it around 45-50 km) Challenged achieved not without a full load of memories, images and i have to say physical injuries and pain...
We left UB around 10am, the meeting time was 9.30, but there's somethings that never change and i was late... Anyhow we arrived to Gachuurt and started the trek a 11am, with the high hopes of getting to Terelj town by the end of the day. We had a poor map and trusted our orientation senses, well, i trusted Mateo and Andrea's... Also we expected to meet some herders on the way that could guide us. We decided to avoid climbing too many mountains and choose to go around them, through the valleys. we though, we planed and the "is only 2 hours away" kept coming up, as well as, the "we turn around that mountain and we'll be there"... Till today i don't know if it was a trick or if he really thought so.
By then we were quite worried because we had to meet someone who was taking the bus to Terelj, and was gonna camp with us. We had no phone signal so couldn't tell him we were not gonna make it, we had to make it! We had very little and short breaks, just keep on walking! Well the walking bit wasn't a problem, but walking and talking requires a fair amount of concentration and more than that: breath! Monika and i kept been left behind, Mateo will wait for us and literally push us. But don't get the wrong image, we were slow, well i wouldn't say slow but slower than Mateo's 2m long legs. but we were the "motivators". The slowly but surely really applies here!
By the end of the afternoon, we met 2 random guys who were drinking vodka in the middle of nowhere, as you certainly only do in Mongolia, who put our hopes up: just up 2 mountains and we were supposed to see the town. Yes! we can do it I said! Come on guys what is two hills with heavy backpacks when we've been walking all day????? Anyway my little speech worked; Andrea took Eliza's bag and we started the climbing only to get to the top of the second mountain to see nothing but more mountains and a beautiful owoo. Morale: do not trust drunken men in the middle of nowhere!
All this, but he had to keep on going, still no signal and our friend should've been arriving to Terelj by then. There was no other choice, it was already 6pm, Terelj was still 2 hours away when the phone started working, just to find out with relief that he didn't take the bus. So then it was all a matter a finding a spot to put the tents to protect us from the wind which was getting unpleasantly cold. I think by then we were all looking for some rest, chill out time, eating something and enjoying the scenery. Unfortunately it started freezing. Meant to be sleeping in 2 tents, we went for the all in 1 to try to get some human warmth. Useless! personally i couldn't sleep at all, the mind is a bitch, once you start thinking you are cold there's no way back. By 6am we all, one by one, made it out of the tent with our sleeping bag to the sun. Some kept sleeping kissed by the sun, I just started my night! Eliza, a genius, had brought Nutella, which does really cheer you up in that situation.
But it wasn't finished.... we still had to make it to Terelj and just the thought of it was depressing. The "motivator" was gone, no more, my feet really hurt, had a bad night.... But hey! we had to go, not without moaning of course! Ironically 2 hours later we did make it to Terelj, had a massive lunch and started playing with the idea of getting to the Turtle by horse (Terelj is quite touristy and you have loads of people offering you horse rides) We started asking for Km and prices, roughly 17km and they were asking ridiculous amounts of money for it.... And out of nowhere I heard myself say "no way! I'm walking it" It's reinforcing the crap touristy prices!" Monika exclaimed "she's back!" Mateo and Andrea laughed and Eliza sighed. We were off again! but not for too long... after an hour the big hill started and with no energy left we started waving at the cars (we were by the road then). When someone did stop we literally started jumping of excitement (the last reminds of energy). They drop us not too far from the rock formation where we chilled, tried some climbing and then waited for the fully packed bus back to UB.
All for all, we calculated 42 km, I'm sure it was more!
Now that my feet have stopped aching I'm definitely up for a new challenge of the sort!
By then we were quite worried because we had to meet someone who was taking the bus to Terelj, and was gonna camp with us. We had no phone signal so couldn't tell him we were not gonna make it, we had to make it! We had very little and short breaks, just keep on walking! Well the walking bit wasn't a problem, but walking and talking requires a fair amount of concentration and more than that: breath! Monika and i kept been left behind, Mateo will wait for us and literally push us. But don't get the wrong image, we were slow, well i wouldn't say slow but slower than Mateo's 2m long legs. but we were the "motivators". The slowly but surely really applies here!
By the end of the afternoon, we met 2 random guys who were drinking vodka in the middle of nowhere, as you certainly only do in Mongolia, who put our hopes up: just up 2 mountains and we were supposed to see the town. Yes! we can do it I said! Come on guys what is two hills with heavy backpacks when we've been walking all day????? Anyway my little speech worked; Andrea took Eliza's bag and we started the climbing only to get to the top of the second mountain to see nothing but more mountains and a beautiful owoo. Morale: do not trust drunken men in the middle of nowhere!
All this, but he had to keep on going, still no signal and our friend should've been arriving to Terelj by then. There was no other choice, it was already 6pm, Terelj was still 2 hours away when the phone started working, just to find out with relief that he didn't take the bus. So then it was all a matter a finding a spot to put the tents to protect us from the wind which was getting unpleasantly cold. I think by then we were all looking for some rest, chill out time, eating something and enjoying the scenery. Unfortunately it started freezing. Meant to be sleeping in 2 tents, we went for the all in 1 to try to get some human warmth. Useless! personally i couldn't sleep at all, the mind is a bitch, once you start thinking you are cold there's no way back. By 6am we all, one by one, made it out of the tent with our sleeping bag to the sun. Some kept sleeping kissed by the sun, I just started my night! Eliza, a genius, had brought Nutella, which does really cheer you up in that situation.
But it wasn't finished.... we still had to make it to Terelj and just the thought of it was depressing. The "motivator" was gone, no more, my feet really hurt, had a bad night.... But hey! we had to go, not without moaning of course! Ironically 2 hours later we did make it to Terelj, had a massive lunch and started playing with the idea of getting to the Turtle by horse (Terelj is quite touristy and you have loads of people offering you horse rides) We started asking for Km and prices, roughly 17km and they were asking ridiculous amounts of money for it.... And out of nowhere I heard myself say "no way! I'm walking it" It's reinforcing the crap touristy prices!" Monika exclaimed "she's back!" Mateo and Andrea laughed and Eliza sighed. We were off again! but not for too long... after an hour the big hill started and with no energy left we started waving at the cars (we were by the road then). When someone did stop we literally started jumping of excitement (the last reminds of energy). They drop us not too far from the rock formation where we chilled, tried some climbing and then waited for the fully packed bus back to UB.
All for all, we calculated 42 km, I'm sure it was more!
Now that my feet have stopped aching I'm definitely up for a new challenge of the sort!
Gachuurt, the beginning
Arrived at the National Park
Lunch break
And through the Yaks
a little break middle of the hill
This is the view after that 2nd and last mountain we were supposed to climb...
No town as you can see!
Setting the camp, already freezing
Kissed by the sun
Not so ready to leave...
Families move their ger during the season... here a family probably searching for a "summer" spot! The modern way, no horses no camel a jeep and the ger at the back!
Finally! TERELJ!
Sorting the pain
Our lovely ride
Last spot, the rock formation! trying the climbing...
And the turtle rock
The sunset while waiting for the bus back home
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