Mongolia: Gobi Desert – Climbing Biggest Dunes
At their highest point in the northern part, the Khongoryn Els Dunes rise over 200 meters to the top of the biggest dune. Naturally, climbing it is a must do, and it’s as strenuous as you can imagine. Going up against a 50-60 degree incline is one thing, but sliding down with each step almost exactly to where you started is another. Just under a 700 vertical feet turns into a nearly 2-3 hour ascent. French cramponing technique seems to work the best. Once at the top – you get surreal panoramic views of the dune field below and mountains behind the dunes. After walking along the dune ridge for a bit, you descend by sliding down, which takes about 10 minutes and requires almost no effort.
