November 21^st, 2025

After breakfast we entered a canyon out of which rushes a torrent. It flows through the temple gardens and reappears in a grove of small trees.

At the Jade Spring Temple, the monks gave us tea and fruit. They warned us the climb ahead was dangerous and gave us walking sticks, saying, “These will serve you as far as Green Branch Wall; then the trail becomes too steep even with a stick.”

As our clothes were unsuitable for the climb we left hats, shoes, and coats behind and ventured forth in pilgrim garb, with turban and straw sandals.