Part 197 - March to Ralung via Karo La in stormy conditions

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SUMMARY:
A 16-mile march to Ralung crosses the Karo La in fresh snow with persistent storms, allowing only brief glimpses of Nodzinkangsa. The writer notes sore faces from the elements, adopts Thudhow’s suggestion to serve cold cream with soup, and records an unusual sighting of snow cock near a house.

CONTENT:
our tents up before a storm of hail and snow broke. We do have the most infernal weather on our passes. Tomorrow we cross the Karo La, and there is the bad weather on us already. We have crossed some twenty major passes, and the only two on which the sky has been clear are the Natu La and the Mela.

15th September. To RALUNG. 16 miles. 14700'. Snowed nearly all last night, but cleared up to let us off at 7.0. In at 2.0 pm. No view the whole way, owing to low clouds. We just caught a glimpse once of the top of Nodzinkangsa 23000 ft odd. It was fine until we got in, when heavy rain and hail again fell. Our faces are very sore today from wind, rain and sun. I forgot last night to put on any cold cream, and suffer accordingly. It is hard to remember to do that, Thudhow suggests that our pot of cold cream should be brought on with the soup, and it has been ordered so now. Crossed today the Karo La (16200') where a battle was fought in '04. What a foul place to fight. All was covered in fresh snow today. Late in the evening got a clear glimpse of Nodzinkangsa for about five minutes before clouds again came down. Today we passed a bunch of 15 or 16 snow cock, quite low - about 15000' - and very close to a house - an unusual place to find snow cock.