CORRESPONDENCE

From:
Bill Aitken,
Oakless
Mussoorie,
Uttarakhand
By email: 15th May 2009

Dear Harish,

According to Kenneth Mason describing Tirsuli, situated on the Pithoragarh-Chamoli district divide of Uttarakhand; 'the three highest summits have the collective name of Tirsuli: south peak (7151 m), east peak (7074 m) and north-west peak (7035 m), all rising from a common base.' (Abode of Snow p.272.)

After he wrote that in the 1950's the south peak has come to be identified as Hardeol ('the temple of Shiva') the east peak referred to as Tirsu1i Main ('the trident of Shiva') and the northwest peak as Tirsuli West ('second, sometimes third prong of the trident'.) This had led some to suppose the first editor of the Himalayan Journal may have been mistaken about the collective name of Tirsuli. Can any reader help clarify the situation and end the confusion surrounding the names of this distinguished massif?

As you, Harish, are at this moment trekking in Kumaun I can only hope the answer is blowing in the wind.

Bill Aitken

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