Page 48 - 2015 AMA Autumn

Exercise
DRAGON
MONGOLIAN
ODYSSEY
Exercise DRAGON MONGOLIAN ODYSSEY 27 Jul – 23 Aug 15, was a level 3 AT expedition to the Tavan Bogd mountains, involving 10 regular and reservist personnel from 42 Engineer
Regiment (Geographic).
Where are you going? “Mongolia, Altai Tavan Bogd mountain range” was my reply, “but that region doesn’t even have a CILOR rate, and I can not find any examples of previous expeditions” was the confused reply from Brigade “exactly!” was how I ended the conversation. 2 years on, with 9 others at my side, we set off on what would become the journey of a lifetime.
For some an expedition would be a brutality they would choose to avoid. For we 10, the expedition would force us to trust strangers and lose sight of all that familiar comforts of home. Some days we would be off balance, tested and pushed while on others we would see true beauty. We would all learn that nothing is ours except the cold, warmth, sleep, dreams and vista on this expedition.
Before takeoff we hear the pilot’s calm, confident and reassuring voice welcoming us on board and giving the details of the temperature outside. As the plane climbs in smooth steps, we see the airport building and the waiting planes grow smaller. London lies glittering beneath us, dropping further every moment as we start on this epic journey that would take us through Beijing, Ulaanbaatar, Ulgii and finally into the Altai Tavan Bogd mountains.
We are flying over the clouds and can look down upon the mass of soft cotton that floats below us. Now and then, there is a break in the clouds, which allows us a glimpse onto these strange lands far below. After 6 days we finally approach Ulgii. The landscape looks carefully handcrafted and manicured. In reality the town looks and feels like a movie scene from the Wild West. All that now remained was a 200km drive through the western plains into the Altai.
Crevasse rescue techniques being taught
The Altai Tavan Bogd contains the highest peaks in Mongolia, with stunning scenery of towering white ridgelines, glaciers, deep lush valleys, and large lakes. The park stretches for over 200km along the Russian and Chinese boarder and is divided into 2 regions; the Altai Tavan Bogd Mountains in the northwest where the expedition was based and the Lake Region to the southeast.
The aim of the expedition was to climb Khuiten Uul (‘Cold Peak’) at 4374m the highest in Mongolia, Nairamdal (‘Friendship’, 4180 m) and Malchin (‘Herder’, 4050 m). To do this the expedition would also have to navigate a 23 Square km bowl that was filled by the Potanin glacier.
The park entrance did not disappoint, all around we were incased in magnificent white peaks, with arêtes that demanded to be climbed. But there was no time to explore we needed to move the last 16km to base camp; so with camels in tow we set off on the last leg of the journey.
Borne below the ever-present white topped peaks that give this area a feel of total emptiness, we proceeded to base camp (BC). As the wind blew East across the valley floor we followed the glacial melt waters to the terminal moraine of the Potanin glacier and what would be home for the next 18 days.
The best weather window for this region is August, as the majority of summer rains have passed, and the temperatures is somewhat settled. The general weather pattern in this area is 4-5 days of clear sky, 20knot winds, day temps of 20° and night temps of -2°, followed by 2–3 days of low cloud, snow, 50+knot winds, days temps of -7° and night temps -17°.
With BCat 2900m, day 1 was made up of briefings followed by a simple shakeout out to stretch the legs and work our lungs. As you walk up the saddle of Peak Malchin you soon realise the scale and isolation in your undertaking; at this point it’s to easy to let
46 ARMY MOUNTAINEER