THE JOURNEY TO MONGOLIA

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Desert Driving

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Mike Novacek

Mongolia is more than two times the size of Texas, and there are only a few roads. Remember, in the middle of the Gobi Desert, you can’t just stop for gas.

Mark Norell
scrapbook page with labels and pictures

staying in touch

Camels seem to know how to navigate through the desert, but for people it’s another story. With few roads or landmarks, how do you know where you are going? That’s where technology comes in. The caravan is equipped with several global positioning system (GPS) receivers that tell us our precise location.

black and white photo of radio contact during early expeditions versus picture of 1990s team on jeep's GPS receiver

caravan to Ukhaa

Driving through the desert requires rugged vehicles that can battle the sand and severe weather conditions. The expedition caravan includes four jeeps and three trucks, one of which carries all the fuel for the trip.

the jeeps and trucks all together ready to continue on
Temir opening hood of the truck to inspect

to the rescue

During the frequent breakdowns, we rely on Mongolian car mechanics. When the situation seems hopeless, Temir, who has been on the expedition team since 1995, comes to the rescue by repairing a damaged clutch or fixing an overheated engine.

Image Credits:

All color photos, courtesy Discovery Channel Online; b/w photo and map courtesy of AMNH