Missing expedition: diary fragments found

Last words for the Nation

"For Gods sake..."

A mystery that has been compared with the search for Colonel Fawcett in the Brazilian jungles and Mallory and Irvine on Everest that of the disappearance of a recent expedition to penetrate the frozen Chadar gorges (not to be confused with Cheddar) in NW India, seems to have been solved with the discovery of diary fragments and photographs, along with a pink plastic bottle contained a yellowish liquid.

Trekkers with digital camera, ice cave, and 'we take to the river'

They were contained in a bag that had apparently contained "kettle Chips". The packet had been licked clean and only forensic examination revealed the flavour. (New York Cheddar)

Diary Fragments

Despite Extensive analysis, the fragments give only clues to the fate of the expedition.

There is great speculation about the "M" that the leader mentions many times. It has been suggested it was some sort of satellite phone that the leader was trying to use.

Rumours that the bag also contained items of a "lubricious nature" have been denied, but Lobsang says he has them for sale.





The "Chadar Expedition" led by self styled Himalayan Guru, Gilbert Pinfold, left Leh in early january 2007, dressed with courage and enterprise (and, in the words of one wag, little else)amid rumours that the only object was to have "outrageous fun"

What caused more comment than this was the leader stating at a pre departure press conference that once 'on the ice' the team members would be subject to the British Naval discipline act 1870.

When asked to enlarge upon this, Mr. Pinfold replied in a loud voice "I've had quite enough of this Bolshie nonsense and any more from you nasty little press types and you will get a taste of the cat"

Confidential comment

A member of the expedition commented privately later that they had all been asked to address their leader as "capatin Pinfold", and when asked why, when it was well known he had no military service, he replied that he had grown up in a Godawful British seaside town with all that entailed and if that amount of suffering did not deserve the small courtesy of Captain, what did?

Conference poorly attended

The press confrence, not widely reported as there were only two press members present (and one of those believed he was reporting on a whist drive)shows all was not well before departure.

Last known picture of the leader

Diary, day 1
Porters small but immensely strong. Fell frequently. trekkers will insist on talking to me. Jam and marmite stored upside down. Suspect two of the trekkers are keeping diaries.
day 2
Fell frequently. Told polar bear joke after dinner. Went down well, but one trekker said in V. poor taste, given so cold. Realised I have read no Virginia woolf and decided to try tonight.
day 3
Large seals seen on ice. Very odd. Lobsang shot one (below)How did they get here?

day 4

Told cheese joke at dinner, thought it went down OK, later accosted by ugly tree woman, said it was in V.poor taste, given no cheese. I have plenty.