Part 147 - Camp above Churam to Tsari Chu via Cha La, 15 May

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SUMMARY:
Route notes from a camp above Churam crossing the Cha La towards Tsari Chu, with distances, elevations, and observations of vegetation and weather. Mentions seasonal grazing over the pass and a lama’s differing account about an incarnation.

CONTENT:
the incarnation, although that is not what the lama told us.

15th May Camp 1 m above Churam. Tsari Chu. 12 m. B.P. 187° Temp 50°
Time 3.30 Ht. 14104 ft. The path to the Cha La is good & not very steep. Pass the Cha La at m 4, 16600 ft. Descent on north side very gradual indeed. At m 8 pass a nala mouth on the L bank where another road joins. From about here on, there is a gradual increase in vegetation. Before Churam is reached, the south side is thickly covered with Rhododendron & a certain amount of juniper scrub. No snow on the pass in May. About this time of year mules & horses are sent over the Cha La to graze in Tsari valley. Cremnopitilon heard all the way down since the scrub was noticed. Primulas are not yet out. On the top of the pass was the new sikkimensis, & down both sides masses of P. Roylei & pygmaeorum. The Rhododendrons here won't be in flower for a couple of months I should say. Our usual luck was with us on the pass. Yesterday was a perfect day with hardly a cloud. Today we could see only a few miles, and in the evening had some rain.