. Round Kangchenjunga; a narrative of mountain travel and exploration . it broad slopesof neve swept down from the shoulder of the Langpo Peak,which seems easily accessible under ordinary conditionsfrom this side. We traversed a second moraine, wemounted soft slopes that led to the scattered boulders atthe foot of the steep screen, a rampart like that of theStrahleck, which guards the pass. We—or I had best, perhaps, speak for myself—I wasmore exhausted at this moment than at any other duringthe expedition. No doubt the altitude had some share inproducing this feeling, but the want of a substa
. Round Kangchenjunga; a narrative of mountain travel and exploration . it broad slopesof neve swept down from the shoulder of the Langpo Peak,which seems easily accessible under ordinary conditionsfrom this side. We traversed a second moraine, wemounted soft slopes that led to the scattered boulders atthe foot of the steep screen, a rampart like that of theStrahleck, which guards the pass. We—or I had best, perhaps, speak for myself—I wasmore exhausted at this moment than at any other duringthe expedition. No doubt the altitude had some share inproducing this feeling, but the want of a substantial break-fast and the heavy snow walking were even more directlyresponsible. The sensation passed off after a halt and alight meal. Our train was drawn out to a greater length than onany previous day. Strange as it may seem, the less comfort-able the lodging at night the more difficult it was toeffect a combined start in the morning. One detachmentat least had not reached our last bivouac. The Sirdars orheadmen seemed incapable of keeping their gangs together;. or THE I/N/VERSITY THE JONSONG LA 155 the good-humoured Gurkhas expostulated in vain. Theyat least were always efficient. The more I saw of themthe more convinced I became that it is on trained anddisciplined Gurkhas that the future progress of Himalayanmountaineering depends. The final climb began with a steep slope of treacherousnew snow lying on a harder layer. There was less necessityfor high-actioned wading than on the comparative levelsbelow, but there were compensating drawbacks. Our feetwent through the soft slush to slide back on hard a step was thus lost, and we had little breath towaste in relieving our feelings by exclamations such asrender endurance easier. My narrative must, I fear, become wearisome with thefrequent reiterations of our snow difficulties. But I amforced to emphasise the fact, a crucial fact in our expedi-tion, that we were facing the mountains in a most abnormalcondition. In
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