Altai

Altai Tavan Bogd, the holy mountain range of Western Mongolia, has borne witness to the movements and migrations of humans for over twelve millenia. If you find yourself trekking through the Tsagaan Gol Valley, you'll discover the landscape littered with ominous stone men– balbal: "grandfathers" or "ancestors" in Turkic, weathered testaments to ancient heroes and deeds, and battles won and lost. 

The terrain here is the most difficult I have ever encountered. For more than ten hours, I ride inside a spare Soviet military van across unmarked paths that are less roads than terse game trails fanning out into the endless horizon. Reaching Tasaan Gol, I ready my backpack and begin the hike on foot toward base camp at Tavan Bogd.

After a full day on my feet navigating boulder fields stretching out as far as the eye can see, I reach base camp, nestled in the shadow of these towering mountains. Despite the aches and the pains accrued from my journey, a deep sense of reverence washes over me as the calm of evening settles over the valley. The landscape here possesses an otherworldly quality. A reminder that like the ancient balbals, we are but small players in a grand and eternal drama.

Altai Tavan Bogd is an ancient mountain range in Western Mongolia. Known as the Saint of Five Peaks, it is considered by Mongolians, Kazakhs, and Tuvans to be a holy place.

Bayan-Ölgii Province, Mongolia.

About this print:
Gicleé inks printed on Hahnemühle Torchon, a 0.50mm thick, 100% alpha-cellulose archival paper manufactured in Dassel, Germany. Acid & lignin free. A unique watercolor texture lends to a three-dimensional effect and excellent sense of depth.

Signed & Numbered, Limited Edition of 100. 

Note:
A 0.8-inch, white border runs along the perimeter of the image. Does not come framed. Please allow print to gently flatten out over a few days upon arrival before framing or hanging.