LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Prof. R. G. Desai
10/209 Bhagirathi Bhavan
Opp. Wadala Rly. Station
Bombay 31.
June 26, 1972.

Dear Sir,

I refer to my article on ' Bethartoli Himal Expedition’, H.J., Vol. XXX, 1970, and wish to correct certain descriptions regarding the summit attempt (page 194, last paragraph) as follows:

On 5 June the summit party left Camp III at 7.00 a.m. in clear weather as reported by Arun Samant who was at Camp III. He could watch them climbing till 9.00 a.m. At about 10.00 a.m. the weather deteriorated with a heavy snowstorm and the summit attempt was given up. On their way down the summit party waited for two and a half hours on a rock where Arun had seen them at 9.00 a.m. They left that place at 2.00 p.m. to reach Camp III at 5.00 p.m.

Next day (page 195, first paragraph) the party wound up Camp III. The weather was gloomy with mild snowfall. The party was retreating by the same route which they took to come up from the lower cwm to the upper section, i.e. by the snow ramp in the northern side of the cwm. The party was swept by the avalanche at this section on the snow ramp. The powder snow avalanche came from the snow slopes just above the snow ramp and not from the point marked by an arrow on the photograph (third photo after page 196).

Yours faithfully
R. G. Desai
(Leader)

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