Part 37 - Mules and avalanches near Nathu La; arrival at Tsomgo (photo notes B.5–B.6)

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SUMMARY:
Photo notes describe a view in the Chumbi valley with mules heading to Chumbithang and a mule being pulled back onto the path near the top of the Nathu La in mist. The entry recounts small avalanches pushing mules off the path, difficult recovery of a mule using tarpaulins and numdahs, and dead mules and wool loads along the route. Reached Tsomgo at 5.15 pm and noted contrasting snow on different faces.

CONTENT:
16

B 5 good -

B. 5. finished. View in Chumbi valley. Mules coming through conifer forest to Chumbithang

B. 6. In mist near the top of the Nathu La. A mule being pulled back on to the path.

smaller avalanche, & carried down about thirty yards. These
were the only two avalanches we saw. It took a full hour to
get the mule up again: the snow was too soft even when
trampled in well, for the mule to get on its feet, and had
to put down all its tarpaulins & numdahs etc before it
was eventually pulled & pushed up to the path again.
Beyond that the path was difficult too, but we had no
more trouble ourselves. We saw three mules away down
the valley trough, which had been pushed off the path
by these little snow slides. One had fetched up about
150' down, & all were alive, but the muleteers had been
unable to get them out. I suppose they will remain there
another ten days or so till the snow melts. Some caravans
must have had a nasty time, as many loads of wool
were lying by the path & we passed several dead mules.
Reached Tsomgo at 5.15 pm, to find little snow on the
South face, but almost as much as before on the
West & North faces. I wonder when the Nathu La was
so bad as late as this before. Flowers have come on