Les passoires de la Eg

JOUR 14 – RIVIÈRE EG. 

Les derniers 150 kilomètres ont été comparables à un véritable jeu de Mario Bros. Nous devions naviguer dans un labyrinthe d'eau vive où le retour en arrière était impossible. Le peu d'espace entre les deux rives nous forçait à éviter des rochers, mais surtout des arbres immergés.

Dans le jargon des sports d'eaux vives, nous appelons ce type d'obstacles des « passoires »: un des pires ennemis du nageur. Ce qui les rend si dangereux? Ils se situent souvent dans un courant fort qui peut entraîner la personne sous l'eau et entre les branches. Celle-ci peut y restée coincée.

Dans notre cas, les manœuvres sont d'autant plus délicates que nous naviguons à bord de canots, chargés à bloc, d'une longueur de 17 pieds. C'est comme parcourir la piste Gille Villeneuve en paquebot.

Évidemment, la prudence est de mise: une bonne anticipation dans les virages et surtout une réduction de la vitesse afin d'éviter toute mésaventure.

N'ayez crainte! Car tout comme Mario et Luigi, nous avons plus d'un tour dans notre sac.

Par: Elsa Fortin-Pomerleau


Point carte!
Latitude:50.24925
Longitude:102.03748
GPS location Date/Time:07/21/2010 18:07:12 ULAT

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Yak Crossing

Day 11, Eg River.
The swift currents carried us towards a heard of yaks, cooling off in the refreshing river. At our sight, most reluctantly waded out of our path, all but a large white yak, its long matted hairs giving it a Jamaican Rastafarian look. It stared at us like a dear in the headlight. As we steered our 17 foot canoes to avoid the beast, it decided it was time to bolt, darting in front us. Eric, in the back of the boat, steered the canoe the opposite direction, just avoiding close canoe/yak collision.

The Eg River weaved through a narrow valley with cliffs escalading up from the river banks. As we paddled further down the Eg it grew in size, and the terrain started to open up, fields of goats, horses, sheep, cows and yaks spotted the country side. The white canvas used to fabricate the gers (Mongolian yurts), contrasted in color with the green mountain side. The inhabitants of the gers stopped their daily chores for a minute as we exchanged the Mongolian greeting “sain bainuu”.
Although beautiful, Lake Khovsgol felt like a long slog uphill. Now with the swift currents, the last three days have been a downhill bike ride.

Sarah McNair-Landry


Latitude:50.14146
Longitude:101.63471
GPS location Date/Time:07/20/2010 22:20:58 ULAT

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The blue pearl of Mongolia

Khatgal
Although the turquoise cyan blue water resembled Caribbean beaches, the cold shocked us as we dove into the lake, sprinting back out as fast as possible. Although today the air temperature was warm, the lake stayed frigid.
The lakes subtle surroundings contrasted with its dramatic weather patterns. One minute the sky is blue, the lake glassy. The next minute, before we have enough time to throw on our Kokatat dry gear, the sky’s turn dark and thundery, frequent lightning bolts illuminating the stormy sky.
After our chilly swim we lay on the small rocky beach drying off.
To the east subtle rolling hills are silhouetted on the far horizon. To the west, jagged peaks reach up, the tallest still carrying snow. South, our directing of travel, the lake narrows, were the town of Khatgal is perched. The town signifies the end of the Khovsgol Lake, and the beginning of the Eg River.

Sarah McNair-Landry