To Altyn Arasan

Our day started with breakfast and a quick shopping trip to the market due to an adjustment in our plan. Snow and below freezing temps have caused another itinerary adjustment. Instead of heading south to Zety Oghuz and forest hiking, we will go north into the mountains and a hot spring resort. Heated dorms await our arrival.

But first we have to change vehicles. The road is "interesting" and only four wheel drive vehicles can make the pass. So...our guide arranged for us to use an army transport vehicle. Right out of post WWII Russia comes "Ursula." It took about
45 minutes to transfer our camping gear, food, and luggage. Then we all packed in, and headed out. Really exciting stuff.

It became immediately apparent why we were using the ATV. The mountain road was barely wide enough for the truck, dirt and mud, and full of boulders. We rocked and rolled for three hours up another 4,500 ft to an amazing alpine meadow above the evergreen treeline. Our accommodations for the next two nights and days are dorms in a mountain cabin. There are four hot spring pools just below the cabin each with temps varying from 94 to 105. Just like home. This is heaven!