Part 103 - Lapu halt and journey to Zimsati via Taka la with seed collection plans

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SUMMARY:
At Lapu a herd of bharal approached, and a female entered the hut where Tsongpen and others were, leading to its capture and killing. A halt day followed with efforts to dry seeds and arrangements for local seed collection, while noting snow on hilltops and concerns for Danong collecting seeds from Rigitum and the Taka la. The party then traveled to Zimsati at the west foot of Taka la amid rain turning to snow.

CONTENT:
at Lapu, where the rest house is under a huge overhanging cliff, with a boulder scree below it. A herd of 8 bharal came on the scree to feed and gradually walked nearer. There was one big head among them. One female actually walked into the hut where three other men were with Tsongpen. They put a rope round its neck and killed it near it.

18th September. Halt. Fine in the morning, showers later and rain at night. Stayed in camp and tried to dry seeds. Arranged for the old man who keeps the tsukang to collect seeds of the Chosan gentian which should be ripe in 3 weeks or so. There are masses of G. ornata on all the grassy patches round about camp. There was snow on the hilltops again and I fancy Danong will have his work cut out to get seeds of the two good alpine P. sikkimensis we want from Rigitum and the Taka la.

19th Sept. To Zimsati (West foot of Taka la) 13 miles. It rained all night, but cleared up by the morning. Left at 8:00 am, yak and pony transport. There was some sun till about 9:30 when rain started and this soon became snow, which lasted till 2:00 pm. The pass had quite a lot on it, and was lying down to 500 feet above Zimsati. It cleared up for a few moments then, and snowed