Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-29
Mountains
gThrugBi sandN by Ahnchs nneonS

brought up YEARLY at Hangar, where
the Kirghiz had pitched a nice yurt, or
blanket-tent, for my benef1t.
IRON here, cent eight Kirghiz.
with shovels. picks and axes. TO the
Tengls-Bai Pass, In the Alai Mountain
range, TO dig path for our horses;
and the next day we rode to Raba&, q
small shelter, at an altitude Of ESQ
feet where I and several OF my men
became thoroughly acquainted with TIE
headache, heart-paipitation. ear-buzz-
ing and nausea that constitute noun
tain sickness.
Early next morning We started on
along the trail that the Kirghiz had
dug. The Alai Mountain ridge lowered
before and above US. We emerged into
@ Steeply ascending trough that vas az
white as chalk.
On the six-foot-deep xnow the Kir-
was as ticklish as planks on q naarsh:
snow.
After zigzagging hundreds Of times
we reached the pass d2,500 feet) and
had splendid view over a vast region
of snow-covered ridges. Southwark the
Aiai Valley stretched between the Alai
and the Transalai mountain ranges,
running east and west
A glen led down to the Aiai Valley.
We followed 1t. crossing and recrosSing
a small brook on bridges and arches Of
snow. The horses frequently broke
through and 1t took our united efforts
to haul them out and reload them
A huge avalanche had come down
the day efore. filling the glen and oblit-
Grating the road. The Kirghiz eongrat-
ulated us on having escaped It. We
perhaps 20 or 80 yards Of snow under
our feet.
At Daraut-kurgan. where we entered
the Alai Valley. there was an aul. or
tent-village. of 20 yurts. We could see
a blizzard raging over Tengis-bai. and
the KirghiZ congratulated Us. One day
earlier and We would have been buried
underneath an avalanche. and one day
later we would have been showed up
and frozen to death in the blizzard.
We approached the yurt of our next
| nights camp to within $50 PAGES. But
that short distance was traversed with
| difficulty. Between us and the tents
was a ravine. filled with nine feet OF
snow. The first pack horse disappeared
completely. but was freed from his
I OOACS 6AiQ AlAQkG0 Wy uEA2ke "a 2OkbE8
It was useless 70 try to shovel the
snow away. The Kirghiz hit upon the
expedient Of removing pieces Of blanket
| from the yurt and spreading them cut
on the snow. The horses were led. one
by one. over the blankets, step by step.
It seemed an eternity before we got
them all across.
From Jiptk. our camp, I sent q
| Kirghiz TO fetch help. His horse
plunged In the snow Up 70 the riders
knees. It looked too funny for any
thing. He soon had 70 give I'D the at
! tempt. We were literally showed IN
and We had no choice but 10 wait.
At last. some Kirghiz arrived with
camels and horses, and they helped
US along for q while. They told .,
that deeper SHOWS were not uncom-
mon. and that yaks were employed q
butt their way through. thus making q
tunnel. through which horses and uaer
followed.
They also told Of % sheep. belong.
ing to one Of their friends, which had
been bitten 70 death by q wolf DURING
the last blizzard. Another man had re-
Gently lost $50 sheep.
The wolf Is the Ktrghig's worst en-
envy. A single wolf. stealing up On q
herd Of sheep at night during o bli4-
zard win bite them all to death. His
thirst for blood Is unQuenchahie.
! Many q Wild sheep (cailed Ovis Poll
| after Marco Polo) has been torn b
pieces By the wolves. who hunt syste'
matically. establishing outposts ans
pursuing the sheep 10 steep declivity
The sheep. on seeing their painting
red-eyed prosecutors behind them. pre-
fer q leap over the precipice. breaking
the fall. so the Ktrghtx say. by LANDING
on the pads at the base OF their pow
erful and beautifully shaped horns
But. even 50. the sheep are doomed
for other wolves are waiting for then
&C the foot Of the precipice.
One OF my Kirghix. with q compan
ion. travelled through the Alai Vale,
and was attacked by IL wolves. Blu,
fortunately. the men we're armed
They shot two Of the wolves. whtcl
were at once devoured by the rest
We crossed the kixil-yu and cAnpe'
In deep snow. Of which enough hal
been cleared away 70 make room for
tent The night was sparklingiy cleA
and still and beautiful with It's Shintn,
stars and snow. The temperature va
80 degrees below sero. felt sorry 70
the horses. They had 70 stand outssc
and freeze,
/ Riding eastward. as we were, fcun'