Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1909 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IV Life at Base Camp--The Camp-Cock--Exploration from Base Camp-- Nieve Penitente--Up the Ice-clad Flank of Nun Kun--High SnowCamps--We enter the Nun Kun Plateau, above 20,000 Feet--At Camp Italia. On 17th July we left Moraine Camp with our whole caravan, and marched up the glacier to join the guide and porters at Base Camp. For more than a mile we followed the steep, torn, and bouldercovered left or west bank, and then descended to the glacier, where for another mile we picked our tortuous way over, up and down, in and out of, its rock-smothered ravines, hillocks, and ridges, to the smooth white ice, over which we passed without difficulty, till the crevassed red section adjoining the mountain-side had to be crossed, where care was necessary. A short, sharp scramble of 400 feet up the spur brought us to the camp. Two tentterraces had been levelled off for us on the slanting hillside, upon which our tents were soon pitched, 48 OF HC li UNIVERSITY ACTIVITY AT BASE CAMP 49 while the porters and servants established their quarters as the nature of the ground warranted. The coolies of the sportsman, who had visited this spot the preceding summer, had constructed several rude, stone shelter-huts near by, in which our coolies immediately made themselves at home. In a short time everything was arranged, and we devoted ourselves to preparations for the further moves to be made from here. All were now keen for snowwork. The nine small Mummery tents were unpacked and examined. A gross of long wooden pegs to anchor them were made from wood brought from the nala below. Ice-axes were tested and polished, and thick clothing was stowed in our clothes-bags in place of thinner garments heretofore worn. Extra mountain-boots were brought out and...