CHAPTER VII 



CLIMBING BELUKHA 



I decide to climb Belukha — Difficulties with the hunters, who turn 

 back— I pitch my tent in a snowstorm — ^An unpleasant shock — 

 Making soup in a portable tent— Sleep and dreams— Morning- 

 No sign of the hunters— I decide to continue alone— Among 

 the boulders— Hardness of the ice— Apparition of one of the 

 hunters four miles away— The ascent— A snow-slip— I narrowly 

 escape — The descent — Difficult progress — I make up to the 

 hunter— Taken ill— I reach the camp with difficulty— Inflam- 

 mation of the eyes— Compelled to abandon attempt— Striking 

 our tents— We miss our track, but arrive at Kalmuck hut- 

 Shelter and warmth — On the way again to Katunda— Crossing 

 the Katun — ^Advice to future explorers— Climbing— Akkem 

 Valley — Climate— Mountain formation — Fauna and flora. 



The weather on the following morning was calm 

 and promising, so I decided to climb Belukha. The 

 thermometer registered 45 degrees below freezing 

 point, and there was every prospect of a good climb. 

 It was my intention to move the main camp as near 

 as possible to the mountain, but the hunters refused 

 to go as far as I wished. I explained that the 

 distance from our present camp to Belukha was 

 eight miles, and, owing to the very difficult moraine, 

 and the peak being quite unknown to me, it was quite 

 necessary that we should move the main camp much 

 nearer to Belukha. The hunters argued there was 

 no wood procurable for a" fire and that we should 

 all be frozen to death. I told them of a large number 

 of fir trees at the base of the glacier which I had 



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