522 Notes of a trip from Simla to the Spiti Valley. [No. 5, 



1st September, Camp, south of Bdba pass 12,793 ft.* 



The ascent to the Baba pass is far from difficult, though a large 

 glacier descends from the summit. This glacier is fissured by numer- 

 ous crevasses stretching nearly across it, and at short intervals from 

 one another. Few of these crevasses are so broad as to be impassable, 

 but in order to select the best spots for crossing, the road winds con- 

 siderably, and it would be decidedly difficult to cross without a guide 

 who knew the track. The day before I crossed much new snow had 

 fallen, which made the walking rather laborious and from its dazzling 

 whiteness proved very annoying, though not to the extent to neces- 

 sitate the use of a veil, though travellers would do well always to 

 provide themselves with this article or a good pair of tinted specta- 

 cles or eyeshades. 



On the southern descent of the pass a small glacier was crossed, 

 but a very inconsiderable one compared with that to the north. The 

 descent was extremely steep, far more so than on the opposite side, 

 and soon brought me to the region of birches and verdure, the en- 

 camping ground being a rather straitened plot on the hill side 

 covered with a rank crop of grass, wild flowers, and ferns. 



2nd, Camp on east banlc of the Wangur river, at Umpti 9,317 ft.*— 

 There is no village here, but a mere camping ground in a fine forest 

 of pines. This day's march appeared much longer than the map 

 shows it to have been. The whole of the Wangur valley is remark- 

 ably picturesque, the central portion being well wooded with pines 

 oaks, birches, &c, whilst on either side rise up steep mountains ter- 

 minating in snowy peaks and glaciers, and in many places scarped 

 into precipices of the grandest dimensions. One of these magnificent 

 precipices opposite the camp exhibited a sheer wall of rock spring- 

 ing from the Wangur river to a perpendicular height of three thou- 

 sand feet, unquestionably the most majestic scarp I have ever beheld. 



3rd, Wangtu Bridge. — At the village of Yangpa, some few miles 

 below camping place, changed my Pin coolies, who from this return to 

 Muth. About Yangpa, apricot, peach and walnut trees were nourish- 

 ing in abundance, and in front of a wooden temple two trees very 

 like fine elms. Some way below Yangpa the Wangur river is cross- 

 ed by a timber bridge, after which the road keeps along its west bank 

 to Wangtu. This portion of the road is steep and difficult, ascend- 

 ing and descending most precipitous rocks and is quite impassable 



