Two years of planning all came together on August 23, 2013 when the first WildArt Mongolia Expedition departed from Ulaanbaatar in two Russian fergon vans, heading south and then west for a nineteen day adventure that combined art, endangered wildlife, Mongol culture and spectacular scenery.
We began in this:
And within a few hours, found ourselves traveling through this:
I had in mind a very special place for our first camp…But first we needed to fill our water barrel from a local well. We also got lots of great horse photos.
Then it was on to our campsite…near my favorite sacred mountain, Zorgul Hairhan Uul.
Once camp was set up, we relaxed and had afternoon tea in the maikhan (Mongol summer tent).
The next morning we were up in time to catch the first light on the mountain.
Magvandorj set up his easel and went to work.
There was a small lake at the foot of the mountain, which we explored that morning.
Odna, Sharon and I took lots of photos.
There was a white stupa at the base of the mountain.
And a sacred spring on the backside, set about with prayer wheels and trees festooned with colorful khadag (offering scarves).
This is what our camps looked like during the Expedition.
By late morning we were packed up and on our way to our next stop, Arburd Sands ger camp and a very special event.
Susan Fox, American Artist 