Or the amazing weekend! Well it wasn't even a weekend, but it felt like it...
Loads of time has passed since, and some of the magic has been lost, you know that excitement when you just come back from a holiday, you tell a story and the images reflect in your eyes, you can't stop talking, and every details is as important...
Times goes by, and you only remember the essential, it is still magical, and it will always be unforgetable... but the excitement has gone...
Maybe that's why i pain to write the story...
I will make it short and as exciting as i can!
I think I should start by my fear of dogs, maybe phobia will be more adequate. I never liked dog, always've been scared of them. However, and i know i already talked to you about this, ever since i came to Mongolia, perhaps due to the constant warning about aggressive dogs etc, I panic when I see a dog, I seriously freeze in place... I'm able to laugh about it, but it took 3 people to take me out of a car once because there were 2 dog around.
I did say I was going to make it short huh???
Anyway, when Ann offered me to go to the countryside to go sledging I hesitated... It was way too cold, and plus it involved being pulled by dogs!!! However, I remember thinking this is a life time thing! when again will i be able to go dog sledging on a fully frozen river in Mongolia? it was sold! Adrenaline is also something that drives me, we all know that...
We got to the countryside, my resolutions, mental preparation all vanished! there were something like 30 dog barking like maniacs and wanting to get free... i was getting very nervous... add to the fact that controlling a sledge was probably not gonna be easy...
Anyway, I'm going into too much detail now! we each got a sledge, and off we went, the first 30 min were quite challenging, getting balance, and getting to understand how it worked, the first time we stopped and I had Will's dogs right next to my carve I almost panic i started running... But at the end it all went well, more that just well, it was amazing!
How it works, basically the guide is in front with the lead dogs, we all had to be very careful to stay in line, as we were unable to direct the dogs, they had to follow the lead one. It's harder that it sounds, my dog were a bit manic and wanted more, couldn't stand when we had to stop, and turned back to look at me when i did something wrong...
We stayed with a nomad family for the night, somewhere 30 km ahead, I absolutely love the Mongolian countryside... It is so amazing, beautiful and pure. And the ger (yurt) is the highlight of it all, so cosy and warm, the perfect place to stay after a day out in the freezing weather.
The top was the day after. On the way back we found a lot of slash and 3 times the ice broke, the 3rd time quite deep (almost to the knees) and I got icy water in my "water proof" boots... Really not pleasant when you already struggling to keep warm, and specially you can easily get a frostbite... when i started not to feel my toes anymore I shouted at the guide way ahead of me, I still think today he thought I was exaggerating... but when I took the oh! so waterproof boots off and he saw the swimming pool I had in there his face changed... Then the problems started, I had wooled tights, plus thermal trousers, plus jeans and on top a wind stopper trouser, this plus 2 pairs of socks! (yes, Michelin man is nothing compare to me in the winter!) socks and tights were wet, but to take the tights off i had to take the rest off, there was no other way but to cut the tights... which make the whole story far more interesting!!! made a fire got warm and off we went again...
As the guide say you wanted adventure, extreme adventure you go it!
I not only overcame my dog-phobia (well i still freeze with street dogs!) but also managed not to loose my toes!
It was a great experience, not sure I will run to do it again, but yeap! this one can also go on my top 20 list of memorable moments!
hmmmm not that short at the end huh?!
Loads of time has passed since, and some of the magic has been lost, you know that excitement when you just come back from a holiday, you tell a story and the images reflect in your eyes, you can't stop talking, and every details is as important...
Times goes by, and you only remember the essential, it is still magical, and it will always be unforgetable... but the excitement has gone...
Maybe that's why i pain to write the story...
I will make it short and as exciting as i can!
I think I should start by my fear of dogs, maybe phobia will be more adequate. I never liked dog, always've been scared of them. However, and i know i already talked to you about this, ever since i came to Mongolia, perhaps due to the constant warning about aggressive dogs etc, I panic when I see a dog, I seriously freeze in place... I'm able to laugh about it, but it took 3 people to take me out of a car once because there were 2 dog around.
I did say I was going to make it short huh???
Anyway, when Ann offered me to go to the countryside to go sledging I hesitated... It was way too cold, and plus it involved being pulled by dogs!!! However, I remember thinking this is a life time thing! when again will i be able to go dog sledging on a fully frozen river in Mongolia? it was sold! Adrenaline is also something that drives me, we all know that...
We got to the countryside, my resolutions, mental preparation all vanished! there were something like 30 dog barking like maniacs and wanting to get free... i was getting very nervous... add to the fact that controlling a sledge was probably not gonna be easy...
Anyway, I'm going into too much detail now! we each got a sledge, and off we went, the first 30 min were quite challenging, getting balance, and getting to understand how it worked, the first time we stopped and I had Will's dogs right next to my carve I almost panic i started running... But at the end it all went well, more that just well, it was amazing!
How it works, basically the guide is in front with the lead dogs, we all had to be very careful to stay in line, as we were unable to direct the dogs, they had to follow the lead one. It's harder that it sounds, my dog were a bit manic and wanted more, couldn't stand when we had to stop, and turned back to look at me when i did something wrong...
We stayed with a nomad family for the night, somewhere 30 km ahead, I absolutely love the Mongolian countryside... It is so amazing, beautiful and pure. And the ger (yurt) is the highlight of it all, so cosy and warm, the perfect place to stay after a day out in the freezing weather.
The top was the day after. On the way back we found a lot of slash and 3 times the ice broke, the 3rd time quite deep (almost to the knees) and I got icy water in my "water proof" boots... Really not pleasant when you already struggling to keep warm, and specially you can easily get a frostbite... when i started not to feel my toes anymore I shouted at the guide way ahead of me, I still think today he thought I was exaggerating... but when I took the oh! so waterproof boots off and he saw the swimming pool I had in there his face changed... Then the problems started, I had wooled tights, plus thermal trousers, plus jeans and on top a wind stopper trouser, this plus 2 pairs of socks! (yes, Michelin man is nothing compare to me in the winter!) socks and tights were wet, but to take the tights off i had to take the rest off, there was no other way but to cut the tights... which make the whole story far more interesting!!! made a fire got warm and off we went again...
As the guide say you wanted adventure, extreme adventure you go it!
I not only overcame my dog-phobia (well i still freeze with street dogs!) but also managed not to loose my toes!
It was a great experience, not sure I will run to do it again, but yeap! this one can also go on my top 20 list of memorable moments!
hmmmm not that short at the end huh?!
Departure
at the base camp
can't see much of us, we are ready for the cold!
at the base camp
can't see much of us, we are ready for the cold!
getting the dogs ready
Sledging
that's me
on the frozen river
Break time
rest for everyone...
After getting my feet wet...
we had to cut the tights off
feet by the fire, and trying to get warmer!
Dogs
The family
their view
and cozy ger, with dogs warming up against it
Cliches
Ann & Susan
Ann & Susan
Ann & Will
the river
Arrival
safe and sound
The whole group
Joel, Bayanaa, Ann, Susan, Zulaa, Will and myself.
Photo credits: Ann, Will and me
