Jigleg Pass: a grassy dirt road to the summit
Jigleg Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.930m (6,332ft) above the sea level, located in Khövsgöl aimag, in northern Mongolia.
Nestled in the Khovsgol Lake National Park, between Khoridol Sharidag Mountains and Bayan Nurruu/Sayan Range, the road to the summit is totally unpaved, mostly grassland and dirt. A complex network of poorly defined roads makes route-finding very difficult, even following a GPS tracklog. The road to the summit is 66.3 km long, running north from the end of the Jankhai road before turning west over the mountains and finally into Renchinlhumbe. Accessibility is largely limited to the summer season. Facilities like electricity, medical aid, hot running water, western toilets etc. are rare to find. The top of the pass is defined by loose wet soil with some ponds and bogs. The pass offers stunning views of Lake Hovsgol. The pass used primarily for local traffic and as a common tourist route. Its wet soils prevent most commercial traffic from using this valley. Remember the weather can change in a matter of minutes. Drenching rain, snow, hail, strong wind and lightning are a concern even in summer.
Road suggested by: jorge manuel gómez sánchez
Pic: Александр Жилинский