12-Sep-2007 -- We started driving to confluence point N46 E107 from Deren soum of Dundgobi aimag after a failed attempt to fill our 4WD with diesel. This small settlement is located about 33 kms north-west of the confluence point and can be considered as a closest settlement with much needed infrastructures like gas station and telephone. Since there were no other settlements and roads passed close by the destination, we solely relied on our Garmin Etrex Vista calibrated with WGS 84 system and drove any tracks that seem to lead to the confluence point.

About 3 kms NW of the confluence point we found that there where no roads to the gently rolling hills where the confluence point lays. Therefore, we started driving straight to the confluence point zigzagging between the caragana shrubs. We left our car about 20 meters from the site and started walking to the site to make our GPS reading N46.00’000” E107.00’000”. The confluence point is located in northern side of hill at attitude of 1,425 meters ASL, covered with caragana shrubs and wild onion – typical gobi pasture land best suited for camels and goats. The whole area can be described as a semi-desert dominated with caragana that fixes the fragile sandy-gravel soil movement.

We also found later on that there is a winter camp with animal shelter about 1.5 kms south of the confluence point but on the other side of the hills. We have camped close by the winter shelter since there was no point of trying to find a road in the darkness and our fuel was already running low after hours of zigzagging between caragana shrubs in loose sandy gravel terrain.