After a morning of gawking at the glowing Flaming Cliffs, countless hours were spent driving to the South Gobi.

The scenery shifted from rugged red rock to golden flatlands to snow-covered tundra.

The Yol Valley (situated at the base of the Altai Mountains) is home to thriving wildlife during the summer months, making it one of the top attractions in the Gobi.

In the winter however, about the wildlife to be seen are condors flying overhead.

Even though the ground was covered in snow, we decided to have a little hike up into the valley.

The stream that runs through the Yol was (mostly) frozen over, creating a crossing hazard that took us some time to navigate. There was a lot of hesitant leaping and delicate tip-toeing involved.

My boots were not exactly the best choice for traipsing around on snow and ice and I found myself laid-out on my back more than a few times.

Compared to hour after hour in our van/home, being out in the fresh air of the valley was divine. And silent. And shocking not as chilly as we had anticipated.