Part 139 - Lung to Natrampa: weather, autumn colours, and rhododendron seed notes

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SUMMARY:
The diarist describes a magnificent view and fine autumn colours on the descent, notes Karutra is shut for winter, and mentions trouble with a few coolies not turning up from a village above Natrampa. At Lung (9200 ft), after rain and an up-valley wind, they note remaining iris seeds at Natrampa and collect ripe rhododendron seeds (R. glaucophyllum 1355; R. ciliatum 2739), observing Lopas in the area and sighting Raprang at the junction of the Char and Chayul Chus.

CONTENT:
The view back to the main range behind camp was really magnificent, and made one feel glad to be alive. All the way down, the autumn colours were very fine - birches, and larch being particularly beautiful. Karutra is now shut up for the winter. Had some trouble as a few coolies did not turn up from a village above Natrampa.
R. vellereum, seeds 2738
No new seeds, but one rhododendron which is ripe now.

17th October. Lung. 9200' 7 miles. It rained most of last night, and has been raining most of today off and on. There is a strong up valley wind blowing. Still a few iris seeds on the open camping ground at Natrampa. At the crossing of the steep side nala on this side of Natrampa, I found two
R. glaucophyllum seeds 1355
rhododendrons with ripe seeds, one No 1355 which I had marked with a label. The other I had not seen down there before,
R. ciliatum 2739 seeds
but had collected up above, 2739. Quite a number of Lopas about, but I don't know if they have been using the path yet, which leads through the bamboo rhododendron which I have to visit. The bracken is still very much standing, but is brown and more brittle than it was. At the junction of the Char and Chayul Chus, one can actually see Raprang. The