Part 121 - Route over Sang La to Dongkar and Dongkar Dzong

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SUMMARY:
The diary describes the path along the north side of the valley to the Sang La, then a steep descent to Dongkar and its Dzong on the right bank of the Nyamjang Chu, noting cultivation, trees, and camp conditions. Weather was perfect until crossing the pass, when mist caused the party to stray onto the wrong road, realizing at 5:00 pm they should have kept to the right bank to cross a shoulder pass.

CONTENT:
Chu, but the main path to Dongkar Dzong keeps to the right or N side of the valley, ascending thus gradually to the SANG LA, at m 14 (Ht. 17,125'). Over this the descent is steep, over shale at first, then grassy hillside, finally bare hillside to Dongkar, at m 17 (Ht 13,350'). A bridge is crossed at the Dzong, which lies on the R bank of the Nyamjang Chu. Dongkar is a considerably sized place with lots of cultivation of barley and wheat. The Dzong is large and commands the valley, which is narrow, very well. C.G. good, water good, fuel fair. There are some juniper trees, buckthorn, and poplar trees. This was a most perfect day till the evening, and the views quite the best we have yet had. From Dongkar till just short of the pass, the weather was perfect and the scenery magnificent. But over the pass things went wrong. The mist came down first, one wandered on without being stopped, till well down the valley. Then at 5:00 pm we heard that we were on the wrong road, and that we should have kept up the right bank to cross a pass over a shoulder. By this time I was a couple of miles from the