Sarlik – that’s the Mongolian word for yak. Most nomads living at high altitudes specialize in yak herding, including our host family. Soyel and Shar have lived for generations in the Munkhkhairkhan Mountains, at elevations ranging from 2,300 to nearly 3,000 meters, depending on the season. In addition to yaks, goats and sheep help sustain the family. Whether one of their three children will one day take over the herds, Shar doesn’t know. “With the changing climate, the already tough nomadic life is becoming even harder. I want my children to be free to choose their own path,” he says.