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SUMMARY:
Route notes describe travel up the valley past summer yakherd huts and a side valley with the glacier called SESUM, crossing the main river and a steep ascent to the Me La (Ht. 14956) before descending through conifers to Shingbe. Mentions an old landslide with a boulder bearing two houses, possible fording difficulties, and bearings to the Yombu Chu–Mena Chu junction and continuation of Yombu Chu.

CONTENT:
72

Chu, first through forest, then through scrub, passing several summer-occupied huts of yakherds. At m 2 a valley enters from the north, where there is a large glacier called SESUM. Route continues easy to SH, at m 5 1/2, where another valley enters from almost due north. This river is of some size in summer as glacier fed. Some difficulty may be had in fording on a sunny day. There is a small foot bridge. Just before meeting the side valley, the main valley is partially blocked by an old landslide, beside the path is a huge boulder with two houses built on it, a stair of stones built up to them. At m 7 the main river is forded to the R. bank, again there may be difficulty here. Just after fording the path climbs very steeply indeed to the Me La, up the R bank of the Yombu Chu. (Ht. of Me La 14956 BP. 185.8 Temp 64°). Descent on the Bhutan side easy at first, then steeper through conifers to Shingbe, a clearing in the jungle at m 12. There are three wooden huts here & usually some yakherds in summer. Bearing back to Yombu Chu - Mena Chu junction from m 7 = 288°. Bearing of continuation of Yombu Chu from same place 77°.

SUMMARY:
The page details a steep descent from a pass to Simoneri RH, then down to Yümo and up the valley past a bridge to Gompo Rong RH and Yüto, noting fuel availability, lack of crops, and a road via the Pip La to Chiksam. A separate stage describes a very stony road to the Takar La, a steep descent to the junction with the Char La road, and onward to Sangachöling, with distances and elevations.

CONTENT:
From the pass the road descends very steeply for 1 1/2 m, after which it is more level along the edge of a marshy plain for 2 1/2 m to Simoneri RH. 13500, 29 m. From here the road goes down a very steep rocky valley 1 1/2 m to Yümo, 11800' a village of 12 houses, but no crops. From here on the road is passable for animals. A track leads down the valley from Yümo to the Tsari pilgrimage. At Yümo the road crosses the fordable stream by a wooden bridge, goes up the L bank of a stream for 2 mil. to Gompo Rong RH 12500' 12 1/2 m. The road continues 2 1/2 m up the valley to Yüto, (4 houses 13200') There is fuel here but no crops. From here a road goes via the Pip La where there is a RH on the N. of the pass to Chiksam in 1 day. ---

5. Sangachöling 18 m 10900' The road is very bad & stony for 8 m to the Takar La 16700'. The road is very steep near the pass. From the pass descend 3 m steeply to the junction of this road with that from the Char La. --- Thence 7 m to Sangachöling.

SUMMARY:
Route directions describe a descent from a second pass to Tahtsang RH, then a steep climb to the Sha ngu La with an alternate road to Chienchao, followed by a descent to a bridge leading to Somtsang. Additional notes cover Yüto to Chakta Trang and on to the Kankyu La, with details on forested sections, stream crossings, and rough road conditions.

CONTENT:
From here it is 1/2 m to a second pass at the head of the valley (5 1/2 m). From this pass there is a very steep descent of 1000' to a link at which pt the short cut from the Tama La comes in. The road then goes down the R side of the valley which gradually becomes wooded to Tahtsang RH 13200' in thick fir forest. (9 1/2)

From here there is a very steep climb 2 1/2 m to the Sha ngu La 15500'. From the Sha ngu La a road leads direct to Chienchao reaching it in 1 day. 1/2 m beyond the Sha ngu La the road crosses a spur & 1 m further is a pass. This part of the road is bad & rocky. From this pass the road descends very steeply into the valley & goes down the L bank of the stream through thin forest to a 20' bridge which leads to Somtsang on the R. bank. The stream is unfordable. 1 RH.

4. Yüto 13200' 15m The road goes down the R bank of the stream through the forest for 1 1/2 m. when it turns up the L bank of the tributary. 1 1/2 m further it crosses to the R bank by a small bridge, the stream being fordable. From this bridge there is a very steep climb of 1 m to Chakta Trang (14100, 4 m) a single RH. From here a road leads via the Dorje Trahsa to Totsen. From the RH, it is 1 mile, latterly very steep, to the summit of the Kankyu La 15000'.

SUMMARY:
The page records altitude calculations for Cha La and Camp Rong, and notes on Tsuk village on the left bank of the Tsuk Chu. It mentions ascending the Cha La pass, passing the Chöde, and descending to Chukar, with a reference to a story of Guru Rinpoche.

CONTENT:
18

Dunkar - 58

14584 729.20 = 15313' Chala 185.20 55° Mean of 2 1.05
729
15313
12998 650.90 = 13648' Camp Rong. 188.0 55 " = 56 = 1.05
650
13648

Ludlow p. 94 na Tsuk - a fair sized
village situated on the left bank of the Tsuk Chu
surrounded by barley fields.
From Tsuk ascended the Cha La pass - the highest pass.
N.B. story of Guru Rinpoche p. 95.
Past the Chöde descent to Chukar. L. 96.

SUMMARY:
The diarist describes views of Hashina, a possible route up the Kuru Chu to Lhakhang Dz in Tibet (said to be a four-day journey in July–September by tom-tom), and a day's road from Shambling past a pass toward Diukkhar and a Dzong. Snow at the lower limit of Abies is minimal, rice and makai are growing, and the writer met a man who had been with them at Singhi Dzong in 1933.

CONTENT:
The difficulty will be to get an open space trunk. Here we can see
Hashina, which is no higher than this place (6400'). The Serjong La
even does not get the height of the fir trees, and fancy even Tin
may only be at the very bottom limit. We must wait and see, as
no one tells the same thing about these places - perhaps because
they have never seen. Many have told me all about these places,
and when I finally ask "have you ever seen them?" they answer "no".
From here a possible path goes up the Kuru Chu to Lhakhang Dz in
Tibet, and they told it is 4 hard days journey. In the 5 or 6 months
(July Aug and I expect Sept) they can go by tom-tom. So there must
at any rate be a path of some kind up there. All the tales
of deep snow are much exaggerated. There appears to be little, or
none at the lower limit of abies. Today's road rises
easily from Shambling to a pass at m 2, thence nearly level
till Diukkhar can be seen, then steep down to m 6 and finally
up to the Dzong. Rice and makai are both growing here now. There
are several very big houses and quite extensive cultivation. I have
still to have talks with the locals to find out what I can. —
I met a man here who was with us in Singhi Dzong in 1933 and

SUMMARY:
Detailed route description from Rong up the side valley via Ringdi Kenza to Lagyari, noting meadows, a Dzong, a gompa, and cultivation. Continues from Lagyari to Lasor over the Putrang/Potrang La (16,470 ft), with steep descents and hills covered in rhododendron, rose, berberis, willow, and birch, and mentions limited supplies. Notes Gent. Waltoni as common along the Tsangpo between Tsetang, Rong, and Lagyari Dzong.

CONTENT:
11a

From Rong path leads up the side valley to the South. Path quite good up the R bank, then (in winter) up the valley bed. At m 4 1/2 the valley splits at Ringdi Kenza and the more easterly one is taken. At m 6 path crosses to L bank, climbs 300 ft, then drops again as a valley turns eastward. Path then up L bank or in valley bed, good the whole way. Grass meadows in the valley bed are met about m 12 and the valley opens out to Lagyari, a straggling, but considerable place, with a large Dzong and a gompa. Quite a lot of cultivation and trees. Independent Dzong.

Gent. Waltoni common on almost all rocky hillsides down Tsangpo. Noticed between Tsetang and Rong, and between Rong and Lagyari Dzong.

Lagyari - Lasor. 16 miles. Path follows up R bank of the main river, sometimes climbing pretty high on the R bank, where it follows mostly a water channel cut in side of side valley. A good deal of cultivation is passed and some small villages. After dropping to the main valley, up which it goes for 1/2 mile, it climbs steeply to the last village and thence 2 1/2 more miles to the Potrang La, 16,470, at m 11. Descent on E side much steeper and more direct. The hills on the E side are well covered with rhododendron, rose, berberis, willow, birch and other scrub. Before reaching Lasor the descent eases off. Some cultivation and a few stores such as eggs available.

Putrang or Potrang La
R. vellereum 3557
etc.
Sherriff 11072

SUMMARY:
Stage notes detail travel from Paka toward Ghana La, with crossings near Kongshong and the Paka Phuchu, side routes to Kucha La and Lohung Legu La into Lopa country, and a camp by a hut with a chorten and prayer wheels. Subsequent notes cover progress along the Tsanang Chu past Tsanang Gompa, a difficult ford in the monsoon, and a steep ascent to a disused pass considered impracticable for laden coolies at this season.

CONTENT:
50a

TSANANG

PAKA to GHANA LA. 1. SAMAR 8 1/2 m. BP. 192.5° 58° 3.30. 15/7. Path leaves the village keeping close to the spur of the hill, then up the open valley bed, which gradually becomes narrower, and the path is in thick scrub or tree forest. At m 4 there is a small hut & here a path leads over a bridge to the R bank to the village of Kongshong, where there is some cultivation. (A branch of this path follows up the R bank to the Kucha La, leading to Lopa country.) Thence continue up L bank to m 6 where a large side valley enters. Its river (the Paka Phuchu), unfordable, is crossed by a bridge beside a cliff. (A path takes off before this & goes up this valley to the Lohung Legu La leading to Lopa country. The La is reached in 3 days from Paka.) The line of the valley up to here is 305° M. The ascent to here is very gradual, but now becomes much steeper to m 7 1/2 where a small pass is crossed, and at m 8 a small opening in the forest is met, where there is a hut containing a chorten & prayer wheels. This is a convenient camp.

2. To Camp. BP. 130.9° Temp 53° 3.0pm. 16/7. 4 1/2 miles. Keep up L bank of Tsanang Chu for a mile, then cross to R bank just below Tsanang Gompa at m 1 1/2, where there are a few huts & one resident monk. Thence path bad, through forest, but never steep to an open space at m 5 1/2. The line of the valley is approx 130°. To the S.E. lies a high mountain, with a retreating glacier on its W. side.

3. Here the river must be forded, sometimes difficult in the monsoon. 1/2 mile further on the valley leading to the Tsanang Chu turns more East. From this corner the La lies at a bearing of 70° M. To m 2 the valley is fairly level, though the first part of the path is very difficult through dense shrub forest. Above m 2 turn up a very steep side stream, which is climbed for about 1000'. Thence traverse to the Tsanang Chu at m 4. There is still a good deal of snow on the Pass, but none on the far side. This pass is no longer used, but it does lead down to Lopa Country. Very difficult for laden coolies & impracticable at this time of year.

SUMMARY:
Notes describe following the Longte Chu to Longtepang and continuing toward Rukubzhi, with plant finds including Primula prenantha, Meconopsis villosa, and identification of Primula tenella. On 13th June, a 10-mile march to Phobsikha via Chele La is recorded, with rain, steep ascents and descents, and observations of Magnolia globosa and a small rhododendron.

CONTENT:
P. smithiana 3250 — See 20th July Yuto La.

...without a stop all day today. Found Primula prenantha today and Meconopsis villosa, but nothing else at all. Path follows down the Longte Chu for 3 1/2 miles to Longtepang, then continues on the main West to East route to Rukubzhi. The primula I have been wondering about, 3249 — is Primula tenella, one of the Obtusifolia section.

13th June. Phobsikha. 10 miles. Height 10,500' approx. Rained all night, but fine till 9:00 in the morning, then rain off and on all day. A tiring march up one pass, then down, and up another, then down here. Saw little but Magnolia globosa, which was common, No. 3253, and a small rhododendron, scarce. Path leaves Rukubzhi and climbs steeply up a ridge on the left bank of a nala at a bearing of 230° to the Chele La, the height of which is approximately the same as the Lausa La. From here a valley leads down to the village of Gufu, near Gangte Gompa at a bearing of 245°. This is followed down till the path comes out of the forest. Then turn South and follow up the next valley. The ascent is very steep, and the La is reached at mile 8. Thence the Phobsikha valley can be seen; the path is steep at first and then eases out of the forest, to camp at mile 11. Phobsikha is still a barren, windy...

SUMMARY:
Notes describe views and landslides in the LAO valley and a march up a steep, narrow valley, detailing path crossings, mileages, and ascent to Shingbe. Weather was fine until heavy rain at 4 p.m.; camp lies near glaciers, with one valley leading to the Me La and a path over a fir-covered moraine.

CONTENT:
59

B. 24 finished.
Views in the LAO valley. landslide in same valley.
B 25.
Landslide: view down LAO valley.

The path is on the left bank, but crosses at m 1 1/2 to the Right. Thence ascent steep regular to m 4 1/2, where it becomes less steep for a short way. It then continues up the R. bank pretty steeply till m 9 where it again becomes more level. At m 10 the pine forest is left. The last mile is over open land. Shingbe lies in a hollow, surrounded by steep hills. There are fir trees to about 500' above Shingbe. Water and fuel ample. 11.

A good day again till 4.0 p.m., when rain came on heavily. This was one of the finest marches we have had, up a narrow steep valley. Whereas yesterday's path was steep and very bad, after climbing 100 ft, dropped 50', today's kept steadily up, a much more satisfactory way of getting uphill. It is a pity the jungle is so dense. The waterfalls on the way up were magnificent, but we never got a full view of one. From camp we can see quite close the snout of a glacier in a valley to the North, while the one leading to the Me La is rather E of N. and the path goes up over a glacier moraine, covered with firs.

See next page
Me La

SUMMARY:
List of places around Chendebi with bearings and estimated travel times to Wangdi Phodrang (1–2 days) and Chirang (4 days). Mentions Sawa La and Sawaphu as not known and notes Phobjikha as a district.

CONTENT:
Chendebi
6
70°
2
Tsela
Chogye
Khemjo
To Wangdi Phodrang 1-2 days
Tafe
Gnudusa
Lishe
Pelam
Ganphe
Tao
Sifu
230°
To Chirang 4 days

Sawa La + Sawaphu not known. Phobjikha a Dist.