Page:My Climbs in the Alps and Caucasus (1908).djvu/34

28 shatter of snow form on Nanga about one day out of three towards p.m., Bruce thinks the weather not quite as it should be. As a matter of fact, the cloud is so thin, and lasts so short a time, that it is almost immaterial to us; indeed, it is a convenient parasol.

The sun is a bit hotter than we are used to, but by wearing two hats, the one over the other (a usual dodge out here), and by putting a lump of snow in between, one keeps beautifully cool, an occasional trickle of water down one's back feeling quite pleasant. I am as fit as I have ever been in my life; you need not feel the least anxiety.

Never have I been with better men, or climbed on easier ground, while for personal comfort nothing could be better. I expect you will get a wire before this gets home.

Whether we get up Nanga or not, the trip is well worth doing.

There is no mistake about the rarity of the air, it touches one up no end. I think the sun, also, has something to do with it.

So far we have done no great deeds, though we got to a height of 20,500 ft. on the way here.

Bruce and a Ghurka were with us. We tried to make a direct pass to this valley (Diamarai, north-west of Nanga), but, on getting to the ridge,