Part 41 - Tongkyuk Dzong field notes, 1–4 January 1947: reconnaissance toward Soshe La

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SUMMARY:
From Tongkyuk Dzong, the party reconnoitred toward the Soshe La but was turned back by deep snow, placed a thermograph, and noted views of Gyala Peri. Botanical observations included Meconopsis and Nomocharis, abundant capsules on Lilium wardii, and a noteworthy Lonicera; weather was cold with light snow. The old Dzongpon prepared to depart for Lhasa, and local peaks including Rangzen Karpo were discussed.

CONTENT:
moraine, when the road disappeared, & became too bad for ponies. Here I stopped and Ludlow went on, on foot, to try to reach the pass. He was held up by snow up to his knees & had to give up. While he was away, I looked at the cliff beside me & at the foot of it, & found many Mec. paniculata, a few M. speciosa, Primula aff. hyacinthina, several Allium, a Nomocharis & other signs of good things. We returned to camp at 6.0 pm.

1st Jan. 1947. Tongkyuk Dzong. Left at 8.0, & back at 2.0 pm. Nothing new seen on the way. We looked for Cremanthodium, but found none. The only game bird seen on the trip was one ♀ tragopan on the way up. The trip was worth while - we placed the thermograph: we saw the Soshe La: & saw that the area is undoubtedly a good one for flowers. There is a very fine view of the snow peaks around Gyala Peri from a little below the entrance to the Soshe La, with the river in the foreground.

2nd Jan. Halt. - Cloudy all day + cold, though min. temp. was high. Ludlow found two Lil. Wardii, one with 22 pods & one with 14. Both bulbs very big — one 8" in circumference. (Later saw one with 28 capsules). We can get little information about the mountains to the SE of here. The big one most obvious from here is called Rangzen Karpo & Gyala Peri is said to be more to the South i.e. right from here, but not visible.

3rd Jan Halt. - Cloudy all day, with snow in the evening down to about 10,000' but clearing up. Ludlow found a very interesting shrub 12062, a Lonicera, in flower. We have never seen this before.

4th Jan. Halt. - Only a very little snow fell, none in Tongkyuk, but pretty well up the hills. Even what fell will not last for long. We find that the old Dzongpon is going back to Lhasa now, so are sending with him a few