Part 69 - North side of Black Mountain Dungshinggang: Kesar Tso to Wangchelakh

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SUMMARY:
Travel over a pass to the holy lake Kesar Tso and on to Wangchelakh, noting yakherd shelters and good grazing near Chapepusa. Morning mist cleared before departure; after reaching camp there was hail and sleet. Several Primula species (Nos. 3076, 3078, 3079) were found in flower up to 14,000 ft, and local yaks belong to H.H., the Trompa Zimpon, and the Wangdupotrang official.

CONTENT:
North side of Black Mountain Dungshinggang.

Half a mile over the pass, a small lake is reached, called Kesar Tso. This is considered holy, and many of the locals make a pilgrimage to it in the summer. The path falls gradually, turning more south, till at m 7 Wangchelakh is reached. There are no conifers here, only small rhododendrons. Three or four stone shelters are built here, used by yakherds in the summer. The hills round about are open grassy slopes, there is good grazing. Part of the way from Chapepusa to the first pass, there are open grazing hillslopes. Yaks are brought here, belonging to H.H., the Trompa Zimpon and the Wangdupotrang official. We woke to find mist low over camp, but before we were off, it had blown away from the SW, leaving the whole country very clear and pretty. We had no rain at all till 1.30, by which time we just reached camp and got settled in. Then there was some hail and sleet. Flowers not bad. We found masses of Primula Roylei, No 3076, and a good deal of Primula macrophylla No. 3079. A more interesting primula is No 3078 which is a Denticulata one, but not I think erythrocarpa. It is much nearer P. atrodentata. It is in flower up to 14000 ft, and covers the hillside in many places, looking very pretty. Primula