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26 - 31 March: Darjeeling to Jelup La
The expedition set off from Darjeeling in India and travelled through hot and humid forests to higher, colder hill country, eventually crossing the border into Tibet. They carried with them a huge quantity of equipment and supplies on the backs of an army of mules.
Along the way Beetham got to know the charismatic leader of the expedition, General Bruce, as well as his sturdy pony “Ginger” who was to carry him all the way to Everest. He also met the Sherpa contingent, tough mountain men tasked with getting the climbers to the summit.

26 - 31 March: Darjeeling to Jelup La

The expedition set off from Darjeeling in India and travelled through hot and humid forests to higher, colder hill country, eventually crossing the border into Tibet. They carried with them a huge quantity of equipment and supplies on the backs of an army of mules.
Along the way Beetham got to know the charismatic leader of the expedition, General Bruce, as well as his sturdy pony “Ginger” who was to carry him all the way to Everest. He also met the Sherpa contingent, tough mountain men tasked with getting the climbers to the summit.

General Bruce, George Mallory, Howard Somervell and Sherpas on Teesta Bridge
General Bruce, George Mallory, Howard Somervell and Sherpas on Teesta Bridge

Howard Somervell on the road to Kalimpong carrying his Vest Pocket Kodak camera
Howard Somervell on the road to Kalimpong carrying his Vest Pocket Kodak camera

Sherpas and Gurkhas with baggage mules on the road from Kalimpong
Sherpas and Gurkhas with baggage mules on the road from Kalimpong

Kalimpong
Kalimpong

General Bruce addressing the Scout troop at Kalimpong
General Bruce addressing the Scout troop at Kalimpong

Mules on the trail to Rangli
Mules on the trail to Rangli

Geoffrey Bruce and John Noel attending to cine camera equipment at the Pedong dak bungalow
Geoffrey Bruce and John Noel attending to cine camera equipment at the Pedong dak bungalow

Howard Somervell bathing
Howard Somervell bathing

"The Morning After" - Sherpas escorting a woman, Chettan with head bandaged
"The Morning After" - Sherpas escorting a woman, Chettan with head bandaged

Somervell sketching the bridge near Pedong
Somervell sketching the bridge near Pedong

On the road to Sedongchen
On the road to Sedongchen


Strange beasts and birds are on every side. Gorgeous orchids decorate the Dak bungalows, magnolias and ‘flame trees’ blaze in the jungle, while brilliant butterflies and beetles lend splashes of unbelievable colours to brighten the forest path.
Sedongchen, 26 March 1924

Sikkimese woman on horseback
Sikkimese woman on horseback

Sikkimese woman with lapdog
Sikkimese woman with lapdog

Group of Sherpas at Sedongchen
Group of Sherpas at Sedongchen

Sherpas at Sedongchen
Sherpas at Sedongchen

Children at Sedongchen
Children at Sedongchen

Road to Ling Tam
Road to Ling Tam

Tashi on the road above Ling Tam
Tashi on the road above Ling Tam

Ling Tam tea house
Ling Tam tea house

Untengen, General Bruce, Khama Paul and Tashi at Ling Tam
Untengen, General Bruce, Khama Paul and Tashi at Ling Tam

Road out of Tam Lin
Road out of Tam Lin

Distant mountains of Bhutan
Distant mountains of Bhutan

Untengen with Beetham's horse 'Ginger'
Untengen with Beetham's horse 'Ginger'

Road above Kupup
Road above Kupup

Kupup
Kupup

Sherpa at Kupup
Sherpa at Kupup


...it is largely the incessant piercing wind and the rarefied air due to the low atmospheric pressure, and also the sudden change from the hot steaming valleys below, that make the cold so unusually effective.
Jelup La, 31 March 1924
Next, the expedition continued from Jelup La to Phari.