Part 79 - Ha-li: Dirupnang valley exploration and nighttime rockfall near camp

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SUMMARY:
From Ha-li on 18 June, the party explored the Dirupnang valley toward a pass to Geormotangka, finding notable Primula and Cassiope on wet cliff ledges in mist and rain. On 19 June they remained in camp at Ha-li, planning for the Rhularkarchung Pass, and were awakened at night by a rockfall that came toward the camp, with Lhakpa alerting the party.

CONTENT:
a thing before. Unfortunately he got little seed, but says there is more, not in flower yet. I must be careful to get roots of it later on. The other side I feel sure is very much better, but it is a pity there is no bridge here. We thought of making one, but it would be too much of a business over the main river.

18th June. Ha-li. Mostly misty & rain, with some fine intervals. We went up the valley called Dirupnang which leads over a pass to Geormotangka. On the first cliff there were masses of P. umbratilis (19183), much finer than the first lot I got. Then we had a very bare day until we had gone as far as I could manage. I decided to try to come down a difficult waterfall, & was repaid by finding then the fine P. macrophylla v. macrocarpa (19189). It tucks itself under cliff ledges, on sheer rock cliffs, but where it gets the constant splash of water. I always feel that that is one of the varieties that should be a species. It has more difference from its species than many species have. A good deal of Cassiope also, of bellidifolia (19190) too. A very wet evening, & it is cold too up here when so wet.

19th June Ha-li. Had a day in camp, & it was a fine day with some sun. I have been waiting for a fine day to go to the Rhularkarchung Pass, but I think they are unlikely to come now, so we must go tomorrow. At about 3.0 am last night we were all awakened by the noise of huge rocks coming down the hill behind camp, & coming as it sounded — as I see it actually was this morning — straight for camp. They made a rather fearful noise crashing among boulders at first, & then a worse noise of tearing rhododendron bushes to bits as they crashed through them. I almost got up, then didn't, then when Lhakpa shouted I did get up & ran off to one side. But the nearest boulder,