BIRDS OF LOCH AND MOUNTAIN 177 

 MORVEN IN SNOW 



A WINTER CLIMB 



ABOUT six miles north-west of Dinnet, Morven, 

 "the Great Hill" (2,863 feet above sea-level), lies 

 midway between the valleys of the Dee and Don, 

 and from the summit cairn a view of surpassing 

 beauty is obtained in every direction. 



At the time we make the ascent the new year is yet 

 only a few days old, but a succession of warm south- 

 westerly winds has caused most of the traces of 

 the recent snowstorm to disappear. Motoring from 

 Aboyne, we have, at the old mill of Dinnet, to take 

 the car through a field, as an immense drift, which 

 a day or two ago was estimated at 20 feet in 

 depth, lies across the roadway. The route is by 

 Ordie and Loch Davan, and two wreaths have to 

 be cut through ere we reach Morven's base. The 

 air is soft and mild and extraordinarily clear, but 

 a gale blows from the south-west and it is not 

 easy to make much progress against it. 



The hill is wonderfully clear of snow, but 

 one huge drift is noted in a low-lying corrie 

 and the fence is completely hidden by the 

 snow. The first white hare is seen just below 

 the 2,000 feet level, and he runs off, looking 

 for all the world like a small snow wreath, as 

 he is spotlessly white with the exception of his 

 ears. Just before reaching the mossy plateau lying 

 about the 2,000 feet line, we put up several 

 Ptarmigan. These mountain dwellers are rarely 

 met with below 2,500 feet, but we have noticed 

 them several times at this spot, even during the 

 nesting season, which is rather interesting, seeing 



