It has probably been the first time that two volumes of the Himalayan Journal have been issued the same year, and within four months of each other—it is not proposed to repeat this record; the trick is quite simple—delay the first issue inordinately and really get cracking on the next!
Seriously now, it has been generally appreciated that the Journal is one of the main attractions to membership and in the past it has had a reputation of being a bit out-dated with its news and coverage—more because of circumstances (prolonged strikes in the Press, transfer or change of editors, etc.) than anything else. It was for this reason that Vol. XXVIII was made to cover two years —1967 and 1968—and then attempts have been made to collect material for each year by Christmas time—editing and sifting by the end of January and to the Press soon after.
That the above time-table has more or less been adhered to is a wonderful tribute to the authors and the Press who have made this bumper issue possible, and in time.
The task, I am afraid, does not end here—I have nightmares already of little packets of photographs, sketch-maps and articles jumping over the fences of inertia, and try as I might, the count never seems to provide enough material for Volume XXX, 1970.
This, then, is my earnest request to all those who enjoy thumbing through the Journal that as many full-scale articles as possible (with sketch-maps and photographs—half-plate size or larger- glossy, black and white) be submitted after the return of the expedition and as far as possible before the end of the year in which it has taken place. It is only by ensuring such speed that topicality can be maintained.
The Journal has, since its inception, been a major source of reference to Himalayan mountaineering—a wide and timely coverage is its main requisite—a publication of this kind can only be as good as its contributors make it and I fervently hope that the excellent response I received this time can be repeated in the years to come.
To all the authors, therefore, my grateful acknowledgement, and particularly to Alan Blackshaw—Hon. Editor of the Alpine Journal—who has come to our rescue time and again with original blocks and a free use of reprinting facilities from the Alpine Journal.
SOLI S. MEHTA
VOLUME XXVIII
CORRECTIONS AND ADDITIONS
1 he Editor is grateful to Mr. Trevor Rraham foi pointing out the 1'ollowing errors in spellings and facts. Fir (the Editor, of course) promises to be more careful in future !