Hi Brett! I think I can help with (1) and (4)

1) Mongolia is pretty cold no matter what time of year. I was there in August 2004 and got a snowstorm right before crossing the Tsagaan Nuur border back into Russia. There is a really high mountain pass about 30 kms south of the border there, the border being on a mountain pass itself.

4) Just about anywhere in Mongolia is a must see in my opinion, but here are some highlights(purchase a good map in Ulaanbaatar - the "Road Map of Mongolia, Avto zamin zural" is as good as they come for Mongolia:

Coming west from Ulaanbaatar

1. Karakorum next to Harhorin is very touristy but worth it. Paved road to it. Make sure to check out the stone phallus across the road. Not that you can miss the very informational sign pointing the location...

2. "Shortcut" directly south from Harhorin to Arvayheer is excellent and a great warmup for whats to come. Great scenery, 2 river crossings, yaks, and a fantastic place to practice your navigation skills without putting yourselves in too much danger. You guys should do just fine on the Triumph Tigers. Use dirt oriented tires though, don't be a fool like me and run a dirt Pirelli MT21 and a street Pirelli Scorpion A/T on the rear. I crashed more than once in mud and sand because of that.

3. South to anywhere in the Govi

4. Fantastic mountain pass on the main "road" between Altay and Darvi. Its actually a dry river bed. You won't believe your eyes when you see all the tracks converge on that one point.

5. Ancient steles between Zereg and Hovd and all the way to Olgiy. They're all over the Altay mountain range.

6. A few river crossings and high mountain pass between Hovd and Tsaganuur.

Enjoy the exquisite cusine! Theres nothing in the world like that fantastic rock hard super sour yogurt blocks. Just ask Scott in UB! I think they're his favorites right behind the Choco Pies!


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Improvement makes strait roads, but the crooked roads without Improvement, are roads of Genius - William Blake

[This message has been edited by CountPacMan (edited 08 January 2005).]

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Improvement makes strait roads, but the crooked roads without Improvement, are roads of Genius - William Blake