During a stay in Altay village (47°51'N 88°08'E), Rosemary Lee and I went by jeep some 10 km north into the birch forest up the Kolon valley leading into the Altai Mountains. From maps it would seem that the Confluence 48N 88E is off to the Northwest of the track, making this a possible lead-in towards it. Maps indicate the elevation of the Confluence as ca. 5500' (1676 m) with Altay village at ca. 3200' (975 m) - a difference of only 2300' (700 m) which tallies with my impression of the surrounding foothills. (Information provided by Stanley Howe)