BARE HILLS IN MIDWINTER 



which the chestnuts disport, and down 

 near the highest of the three ponds is a 

 beautiful little splash of white all flushed 

 with pink. This marks the location of a 

 group of young birches, the only ones I 

 find on the heights of the range. 



Midday had passed and with it the 

 genial warmth that .the south wind had 

 brought us. Instead romping northern 

 breezes had a tang in them and torn 

 clouds sailed swiftly into view over the 

 summit of Great Blue, rushing deep blue 

 shadows across the warm grays of the 

 landscape. The age-old battle of sun and 

 wind was going on on every summit of 

 the range. Climbing the southerly slope 

 of Hancock it was hard to believe it win- 

 ter. You got either season on the summit 

 plateau according to the nook you chose, 

 but Standing on the rim of the precipice, 

 which faces north you had no doubts, 

 103 



