Part 89 - Weather and field notes near SE Tibet: 30 June and 1 July

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SUMMARY:
The diarist reflects on rainfall patterns across SE Tibet and suggests a rain-gauge transect from Sikkim to the Tsangpo Gorge. On 30 June heavy rain hampers collecting, with Meconopsis bella absent and only M. simplicifolia common; seed of P. atrodentata is ripe, and plans are made to try Marlung, Waitang, and Trompa-lun. On 1 July, despite very wet conditions, the diarist and one Bhutanese assistant go via the Chachhu La to a large high-altitude lake.

CONTENT:
the south side here, are lower than similar ones on the north side in SE Tibet. I can't see the reason, unless it be that rain does not reach the main range in any amount until about the first week in June, whereas it certainly does before that further east. A line of rain gauges at similar heights from Sikkim to the Tsangpo Gorge, on the actual rain axis would be most interesting.

30th June. Halt. Rain most of the day, especially morning. A thoroughly bad day for the last of the month. I went out round over the cliffs opposite camp & came back without getting a flower. It seemed ideal for Mec. bella for instance, but there was no sign. In fact the only common Mec. in this whole area is simplicifolia. I hope we will find Marlung better than here or Waitang. At any rate I plan to get over to the Trompa-lun somehow, & feel confident that will be better. But one cannot find out anything about these places without actually going. Locals will tell you anything without knowing, or nothing if they do know. Seed of P. atrodentata is now ripe. It is always the first to ripen.

1st July. Halt. A very wet day indeed, but I went out with just one Bhutanese to carry the press, & went up the Chachhu La route to a very big lake about 15000'. We had a good day on the whole, & had I only been living up there, I believe we would have done really well. Saw masses of