ABSTRACT
Since the day after our arrival at Chutong camp, when Ronald and I had visited the Cheti La and found it impassable, I had climbed up several times at intervals of a few days to see how fast the snow was disappearing. On June 28th we crossed the ridge and descended the chimney a little distance; but on account of an overhanging snow cornice, we had to clamber up and down the cliffs, a hazardous undertaking impossible for coolies carrying loads. Like the dove from the ark, I went up again on July ist to see if the snow had melted; it had not. On this occasion I saw three female monals with four chicks just able to fly. They walked up the scree, uttering their plaintive cry.
