For those of you not watching football yet I will post a few photos from a trip my wife and I took in September to remote western Mongolia. We spent two weeks living with Kazakh eagle hunter nomads, either in tents or their Gers (same as Yurt). They are amazing people and it was so desolate yet beautiful region. We were also high into the Altai Mountains near the Russian border. No plumbing or toilets for 10 days! This trip is not for most people but I think the centuries old custom of capturing, training, and hunting with golden eagles will gradually be lost as each younger generation changes and leave the nomadic life style. The last 2 days we were at a wonderful "Eagle Festival" where there were many competitions. I will post a few more another time...

Gunflint - These images are all specially high-quality! An amazing adventure for you and your wife. As others noted, image #5 is superb - you captured him at exactly the right moment!! The photo of the young woman shows much detail about her lifestyle and joy. You mentioned that she spoke english and had advanced education plans in mind. More power to her. How were you able to communicate generally with the nomads? ~Ralph Wallace, a former grad of UofColorado in Boulder, now living in the north woods of Wisconsin northwest of Green Bay.