Altai city, nestled in Mongolia’s western embrace by the majestic Altai mountains, seamlessly blends tradition and progress. This bustling hub thrives on agriculture, animal husbandry, and mining, renowned for its premium cashmere and livestock products. As the heart of the Gobi-Altai Province, it boasts easy access via roads and a local airport. So, Altai city became our convenient gateway to the breathtaking Mongolian Altai, promising both stunning landscapes and rich cultural experiences.
After settling into the comfy Entum Hotel, a hot shower beckoned. But outside, a small hill, barely 20 meters tall, piqued my curiosity. Topped with a peculiar combination of a shrine and a communication tower, it shared a fence line with our hotel. We couldn’t resist a quick exploration.
Few minutes walk offered a stunning sunset vista of the city bathed in golden light. Reaching the summit, we found pillars adorned with plaques showcasing Mongolian song and a list of sponsors. Rob, our resident map expert, analyzed the surrounding landscape and declared our peak to be 15-meter prominence. Peak name Shuteenoo Onderlog, according to some maps, we named it same.
The panoramic view of Altai city left us speechless, and with a satisfying dinner under our belts, it was time to shift our focus to Otgon Tenger Uul. Armed with maps and satellite imagery, we strategized our approach to this next grand objective. Questions swirled in our minds – route, starting point, success – fueling the anticipation for the adventure to come.
