Part 143 - Camp at Karmu via Cho La with route notes and incident with Kurtip (21st August)

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SUMMARY:
Notes an incident where Kurtip was thought to be under a 'mantra' by Tawang people after a dispute, and remarks on the Tulung La tree. Describes the route from Re over the steep Cho La to Karmu via Mena, following the Mena Chu through forested terrain.

CONTENT:
very bad, had come to the conclusion that it was
not an illness, but that Kurtip had had some
'mantra' put on him by the Tawang people because
he beat them up a bit when they failed to get a
move on between Muktur & Tawang. Noticed
the small Tulung La tree here again. It must
grow all along these hills, but only or mostly in
the main range.

21st August. Camp at KARMU. 8 miles. 12995'. (B.P of
Cho La 183.8 Temp 52° = 16151' BP of Karmu 189.1 Temp
55° = 12295'.). After leaving the thang at Re,
path ascends steeply to the south keeping to the left bank
of the stream. At m 1 a small plateau is reached.
The final ascent to the CHO LA at m 2 is very steep
indeed. The pass itself is an absolute knife edge,
steeper on the north than the south. Descent over
bare hillside to the south into a beautiful valley,
thickly fir clad on the north north west face. A
river is met at m 3 1/2 & followed down being
crossed occasionally. At m 5 a plain is reached,
called Mena, where there are usually yak herds. The
Mena Chu is followed down first over open country,
then through thick forest. The path keeps up the
R bank after m 5 & is more or less level to