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Winter Jeep Trekking |
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Thirsty Horse Mongolia llc |
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Winter Jeep Trekking in Mongolia is a novel experience, and very nice for those seeking the tranquility of solitude in a beautiful and unspoiled wilderness. This picture was taken in the Terelj National Park, just to the East of Ulaan Baatar, on a run out to the “Princess Temple”. This was 2014, and we were running just the 2 Uaz jeeps shown in the picture. The hard top is a 2011 2.9 litre model that was top of the range at the time. The other is the 2.3 litre standard military model. Both are 4 cylinder engines built to run on 80 octane petrol, which was the only petrol available outside of UB up to about 2010. The 2.9 was fully rebuilt this year and is running fine. The 2.3 needs work. The conditions are light snow, which requires permanent 4 wheel drive otherwise the jeeps slide all over the place, and the weather seen is typical - it’s about –20C, with no wind and the air very still. We wouldn’t want to run bikes in these conditions, but it’s nice and warm in the jeeps. When you get out, you need ski clothes, leggings, and face masks, but dressed like this and if you keep walking you won’t be cold. It’s very nice, in fact.
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Camping at night requires gers (yourts), which would be inconvenient to carry in the jeeps so we set them up in advance, and you won’t survive without a fire. To start the jeeps in the morning traditionally requires 20 minutes with a paraffin blow lamp trained on the engine sump, and then turning the engine over with the starting handle a few times before starting. Batteries, in these conditions, can be a bit challenged. But this is where we left off 10 years ago, and now we are re-building. The current model of the Uaz “Hunter” jeep uses a 2.7 litre 16valve fuel injected engine that runs on 90 octane petrol. 80 octane is no longer available in Mongolia anyway. Basically, this is a big improvement with a much more powerful engine, and the build details have been improved a lot too. But the jeeps are still very much traditional machines: 5 speed manual, transfer box, no electronic gimmickry - no you don’t have to turn off the traction control before leaving the tarmac. These jeeps are for people who like to drive and like to be in control when they drive - no criticism here, “you pays your money and you takes your choice”, as Norman used to say.
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We plan to start running this activity in December 2025 with 2 new Hunters and a Forgon. Keep in touch for updates. |
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This activity supports the preservation of traditional Mongolian country skills and lifestyle. |
