Son Kul Lake

Today we drove to the high pastures and Son Kul Lake (9,895ft/3,016m above sea level). Along with the yurts of nomadic shepherds many camps have been built around the lake due to its natural beauty. The people who look after them still tend their own animals and we were regularly visited by cattle, sheep, and horses grazing outside our yurt. Sometimes rounded up by a young boy on horseback.

By the time we arrived today there was no time to do anything but a short walk by the lake between lunch at 3.30pm and dinner at 8pm. The temperature has dropped to around 10 degrees but the wind makes it feel very chilly. This is the first time on this trip I have felt cold and we dig out our long sleeves, walking shoes, and jackets. While we have dinner the fire in our yurt is lit and it's really cozy when we retire for the night. I had hoped to get some night sky shots but there is too much cloud cover.