[Journal, 3rd Archbold Expedition to New Guinea] March 23, 1938 to June 9, 1939
Page 211
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Transcription
Monday, September 19, 1938. Spent the day in camp cataloging the plants collected yesterday (- 60 spp.). Sent word to Myer Drees to move up here to assist in collecting. Teerink went down to the 3560 m. Camp after breakfast and returned late in the afternoon with Myer-Drees, Schröder and a convoy of eight carriers. Tomorrow Archbold, Rand, Teerink and Schröder leave for the west side of the main ridge to make another (second) attempt to find a possible route to the summit of Wilhelmina. Tuesday, September 20, 1938. Went with Archbold, Rand, Teerink and Schroeder to their camp on the south side of Wilhelmina, and returned to Sira Valley Camp in the after- noon (see field notebook #1). The south slope camp is situated in a small grass pocket at 4000 m. altitude about 1-2 km. from the top. On the section of the mountain trees (Rhododendron #9833 and Coprosma , 6-8 ft. high, with some bushy Drimys  and odd examples of Rapania) form interrupted low scrubs on the sides of the camp pocket. This is tree limit hereabouts. The main ridge crossed at an altitude of 4240-4250 m. and the journey to the camp occupies about three hours. No change in flora on south side. That side of the range seems, however, wetter than the northern slope. Probably this is due to an earlier blanketing with mist clouds. At one o'clock the south slopes were covered in mist today, while the north slopes were clear until between four and five o'clock.