Yesterday’s attempt to cross the Gobi Desert took an unexpected turn with a sandstorm blurring our path forward. We halted, seeking direction from road construction workers, whose varied advice only tangled our plans further. Thus, we retraced our steps 150 km back to Dalanzadgad. Today, en route from Dalanzadgad to Bogd, we’re making quick stops to ascend any minor prominence peaks we encounter. Two equally tall peaks near Bulgan city draw our eyes. Unnamed on our maps, we christen them “Peak 1156, Bulgan” and “Peak 1158, Bulgan” based on their elevation and vicinity to Bulgan
Steering right towards these peaks, we maneuver around small ravines and finally pause before a slope that’s not too high but notably steep. After parking, a brief scramble over rolling stones brings us to the summit plateau.
Atop, we find a cairn and a small shrine with three pillars, signaling the local tradition of visiting such sites. Another subsummit to the north, marked by a cairn yet slightly lower, catches our interest. Rob, with his hand level, eyes another peak 1.2 km northeast, slightly taller (Peak 1158, Bulgan). Opting for separate paths, Rob heads straight there while I return to the car to approach it from a closer point. We agree to regroup in the saddle between the peaks.
On my descent, I choose a sandy ravine over the gravelly slope for ease, a choice that proves wise for both descent and potential ascent. Quickly reaching the car, I then drive to the saddle, reunite with Rob, and we climb Peak 1158, Bulgan together. Despite its brevity, the hike proves to be a captivating episode in our journey.
