"Once in Moscow, things did not work as smoothly as they had two years before. ... [But] I heard that four Russians intended to spend their holidays in the T'ien Shan ... by train I could go with them as far as Frunze in Kirghizistan."

"In one day I managed to secure a railway ticket, a mountaineering outfit (ice-axe, crampons, rope), groceries to last me two months, an official permit to stay six months in Russia, and a letter of introduction from Sovtourist in case I might find any bases open ..." 1/