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Authors: Ursula K. Le Guin
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radioed all well at Verandah Camp.
The Sherbets are singing at their campfires.
2/23.
Making ready. Tightened gossels. Weather holds.
2/24.
Reached Verandah Camp easily in one day’s climb. Tricky bit where the lattice and tongue and groove join, but Advance Party
had left rope in place and we negotiated the overhang without real difficulty. Omu Ba used running jump and arrived earlier
than rest of party. Inventive but undisciplined. Bad example to other Sherbets. Verandah Camp is level, dry, sheltered, far
more comfortable than Base. Glad to be out of the endless rhododendrons. Snowing tonight.
2/25.
Immobilized by snow.
2/26.
Same.
2/27.
Same. Finished last sheets of
Times
(adverts).
2/28.
Derek, Nigel, Colin, and I went up in blinding snow and wind to plot course and drive pigils. Visibility very poor. Nigel
whined.
Turned back at noon, reached Verandah Camp at 3 pip emma.
2/29.
Driving rain and wind. Omu Ba drunk since 2/27. What on? Stove alcohol found to be low. Inventive but undisciplined. Chastisement
difficult in circumstances.
2/30.
Robert roped right up to the North-East Overhang. Forced to turn back by Sherbets’ dread of occupants. Insuperable superstition.
We must eliminate plans for that route and go straight for the Drain Pipe. We cannot endure much longer here crowded up in
this camp without newspapers. There is not room for six men in our tent, and we hear the sixteen Sherbets fighting continually
in theirs. I see now that the group is unnecessarily numerous even if some are under 5 foot 2 inches in height. Ten men, handpicked,
would be enough. Visibility zero all day. Snow, rain, wind.
2/31.
Hail, sleet, fog. Three Sherbets have gone missing.
3/1.
Out of Bovril. Derek very low.
3/4.
Missed entries during blizzard. Today bright sun, no wind. Snow dazzling on lower elevations; from here we cannot see the
heights. Sherbets returned from unexplained absence with Ovaltine. Spirits high. Digging out and making ready all day for
ascent (two groups) tomorrow.
3/5.
Success! We are on the Verandah Roof! View overwhelming. Unattained summit of 2618 clearly visible in the SE. Second Party
(Peter, Robert, eight Sherbets) not here yet. Windy and exposed campsite on steep slope. Shingles slippery with rain and sleet.
3/6.
Nigel and two Sherbets went back down to the North Edge to meet Second Party. Returned 4 pip emma without having sighted
them. They must have been delayed at Verandah Camp. Anxiety. Radio silent. Wind rising.
3/7.
Colin strained shoulder on rope climbing up to the Window. Stupid, childish prank. Whether or not there are occupants, the
Sherbets are very strong on not disturbing them. No sign of Second Party. Radio messages enigmatic, constant interference
from KWJJ Country Music Station. Windy, but clear weather holds.
3/8.
Resolved to go up tomorrow if weather holds. Mended doggles, replaced worn pigil-holders. Sherbets noncommittal.
3/9.
I am alone on the High Roof.
No one else willing to continue ascent. Colin and Nigel will wait for me three days at Verandah Roof Camp; Derek and four
Sherbets began descent to Base. I set off with two Sherbets at 5 ack emma. Fine sunrise, in East, at 7.04 ack emma. Climbed
steadily all day. Tricky bit at last overhang. Sherbets very plucky. Omu Ba while swinging on rope said, “Observe fine view,
sah!” Exhausted at arrival at High Roof Camp, but the three advance Sherbets had tents set up and Ovaltine ready. Slope so
steep here I feel I may roll off in my sleep!
Sherbets singing in their tent.
Above me the sharp Summit, and the Chimney rising sheer against the stars.
That is the last entry in Simon Interthwaite’s journal. Four of the five Sherbets with him at the High Roof Camp returned
after three days to the Base Camp. They brought the journal, two clean vests, and a tube of anchovy paste back with them.
Their report of his fate was incoherent. The Interthwaite Party abandoned the attempt to scale
The Sherbets are singing at their campfires.
2/23.
Making ready. Tightened gossels. Weather holds.
2/24.
Reached Verandah Camp easily in one day’s climb. Tricky bit where the lattice and tongue and groove join, but Advance Party
had left rope in place and we negotiated the overhang without real difficulty. Omu Ba used running jump and arrived earlier
than rest of party. Inventive but undisciplined. Bad example to other Sherbets. Verandah Camp is level, dry, sheltered, far
more comfortable than Base. Glad to be out of the endless rhododendrons. Snowing tonight.
2/25.
Immobilized by snow.
2/26.
Same.
2/27.
Same. Finished last sheets of
Times
(adverts).
2/28.
Derek, Nigel, Colin, and I went up in blinding snow and wind to plot course and drive pigils. Visibility very poor. Nigel
whined.
Turned back at noon, reached Verandah Camp at 3 pip emma.
2/29.
Driving rain and wind. Omu Ba drunk since 2/27. What on? Stove alcohol found to be low. Inventive but undisciplined. Chastisement
difficult in circumstances.
2/30.
Robert roped right up to the North-East Overhang. Forced to turn back by Sherbets’ dread of occupants. Insuperable superstition.
We must eliminate plans for that route and go straight for the Drain Pipe. We cannot endure much longer here crowded up in
this camp without newspapers. There is not room for six men in our tent, and we hear the sixteen Sherbets fighting continually
in theirs. I see now that the group is unnecessarily numerous even if some are under 5 foot 2 inches in height. Ten men, handpicked,
would be enough. Visibility zero all day. Snow, rain, wind.
2/31.
Hail, sleet, fog. Three Sherbets have gone missing.
3/1.
Out of Bovril. Derek very low.
3/4.
Missed entries during blizzard. Today bright sun, no wind. Snow dazzling on lower elevations; from here we cannot see the
heights. Sherbets returned from unexplained absence with Ovaltine. Spirits high. Digging out and making ready all day for
ascent (two groups) tomorrow.
3/5.
Success! We are on the Verandah Roof! View overwhelming. Unattained summit of 2618 clearly visible in the SE. Second Party
(Peter, Robert, eight Sherbets) not here yet. Windy and exposed campsite on steep slope. Shingles slippery with rain and sleet.
3/6.
Nigel and two Sherbets went back down to the North Edge to meet Second Party. Returned 4 pip emma without having sighted
them. They must have been delayed at Verandah Camp. Anxiety. Radio silent. Wind rising.
3/7.
Colin strained shoulder on rope climbing up to the Window. Stupid, childish prank. Whether or not there are occupants, the
Sherbets are very strong on not disturbing them. No sign of Second Party. Radio messages enigmatic, constant interference
from KWJJ Country Music Station. Windy, but clear weather holds.
3/8.
Resolved to go up tomorrow if weather holds. Mended doggles, replaced worn pigil-holders. Sherbets noncommittal.
3/9.
I am alone on the High Roof.
No one else willing to continue ascent. Colin and Nigel will wait for me three days at Verandah Roof Camp; Derek and four
Sherbets began descent to Base. I set off with two Sherbets at 5 ack emma. Fine sunrise, in East, at 7.04 ack emma. Climbed
steadily all day. Tricky bit at last overhang. Sherbets very plucky. Omu Ba while swinging on rope said, “Observe fine view,
sah!” Exhausted at arrival at High Roof Camp, but the three advance Sherbets had tents set up and Ovaltine ready. Slope so
steep here I feel I may roll off in my sleep!
Sherbets singing in their tent.
Above me the sharp Summit, and the Chimney rising sheer against the stars.
That is the last entry in Simon Interthwaite’s journal. Four of the five Sherbets with him at the High Roof Camp returned
after three days to the Base Camp. They brought the journal, two clean vests, and a tube of anchovy paste back with them.
Their report of his fate was incoherent. The Interthwaite Party abandoned the attempt to scale
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