The weather was fine, and for the first week of his stay Giles went with Beverley on several short geological expeditions. They also went shooting together once or twice, and they visited neighbours in the district. But on October 18 Beverley had business in the local market town. So Giles decided to make an all-day excursion to a place on the other side of the mountains, about ten miles away. The sky was cloudy when Giles set off after an early breakfast. In his bag were his sandwiches and his geological hammers, and information from Beverley's servant, Parry, about his route across the mountains.