of 



broken fury of the gale as it swept down the 

 slope from the heights above. The region was 

 barren of snow. The wind dashed me with 

 sandblasts and pelted me with gravel volleys 

 that were almost unbearable. My face and 

 wrists were bruised, and blood was drawn in 

 many places where the gravel struck. 



Seeking rest and shelter from this persistent 

 punishment, I approached a crag and when only 

 a few yards away was struck and overturned by 

 the milling air-current around it. The air was 

 so agitated around this crag that its churnings 

 followed me, like disturbed water, under and 

 behind the large rock-fragments, where shelter 

 was hoped for but only partly secured. 



On the last slope below the meter the wind 

 simply played with me. I was overthrown, 

 tripped, knocked down, blown explosively off 

 my feet and dropped. Sometimes the wind 

 dropped me heavily, but just as often it eased 

 me down. I made no attempt to stand erect; 

 most of the time this was impossible and at all 

 times it was very dangerous. Now and then the 

 wind rolled me as I lay resting upon a smooth 



76 



