Part 73 - Descent through Abies forest; rhododendrons and primulas; plan to visit holy lakes

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SUMMARY:
The diarist descends through an Abies forest after passing a small flat, noting masses of Primula roylei in clearings and Primula whitei in damp forest, with several rhododendrons including a pale mauve form. After brief rain the weather clears, and plans are made to attempt reaching the holy lakes the next day, though climbing peaks is deemed impossible.

CONTENT:
A small open flat is passed at 1 1/2. Then the forest of Abies is entered and the path wanders down this by an easy descent to m 3, where a valley enters from the south. A little beyond this is a clearing where a small camp can be made.

Several rhododendrons were seen on the way down, but most were not in full bloom yet. Primula roylei is in masses wherever there is a clearing, while damp spots in the forest have Primula whitei growing to perfection, dotted about all over the place, on mossy slopes. Rain started at 1:00 pm. There are no built-up shelters beyond yesterday's camp. The coolies hoped I might stay there for a day. They can reach the holy lakes in one day from there, and back, with difficulty, starting about 3:00 or 4:00 am. We will go up tomorrow if the weather is good and see how far we can get, but any hope of climbing the peaks is out of the question.

The prettiest rhododendrons today were Rhododendron fulgens (?) 3090 and a pale mauve one 3087 which looks very pretty indeed when fully out, as I saw it in a side valley below us. The rain did not last for long and now it is again clear at 4:30 pm. I do hope we have a good day tomorrow to see the lakes, though I hardly expect to find many flowers.