Ben MacDh^l^ in September 



driving shower shrouding the wild glen with mystery. Cam 

 a'Mhaim, with green corries where stags graze in shelter from 

 the west wind, was of a deep blue colour, and beyond it, 

 and across the valley of the Dee, stood Beinn a'Ghlo, with 

 mist near its summit. Curiously enough, the heather on the 

 high grounds had bloomed earlier than on mid-Deeside this 

 season, and around the Derry was already quite over. Just 

 below the 3,ooo-foot line many plants of Azalea procumbens 

 were passed, and I noticed that they carried an exceptionally 

 fine crop of seeds. Here, too, were growing Lycopodium 

 selago and Lycopodium alpinum, and crowberry and blae- 

 berry plants extended even beyond this level, although at 

 this great height they bore no fruit. 



Beneath the wild Sputan Dearg of Ben MacDhui there lies 

 a lochan which few have seen, for it is hidden in the very 

 heart of the corrie and surrounded by big hills. Not a 

 breath of wind ruffled the surface of the lochan to-day. One 

 could see far into its gloomy depths, in which were reflected 

 with uncommon and beautiful effect great masses of white 

 cumulus clouds. Soon a shower swept down from the north- 

 west, and across the waters of the loch a rainbow was thrown 

 and persisted for some minutes. Amongst the rocks ptar- 

 migan croaked, and a meadow pipit flitted up the hillside. 

 The Lairig had that deep blue colour which one often sees 

 in unsettled weather between the showers. On Cairn Toul 

 the sun shone brilliantly, a few small clouds of a thin grey 

 mist suspended in the air near the summit cairn catching its 

 light. The Buidhe Aonach, as the southern spur of Cairn 

 Toul is named, was in shadow, and the Devil's Point wrapped 

 in gloom. 



On Sgor an Lochan Uaine the mists lingered, and away 

 at the head of the Garbh Choire mist and sun contended. I 

 have never before seen the snowbeds of the Garbh Choire 

 so extensive in mid-September. The main field was) aS 

 large as is usually the case in early August, and had not as 

 yet even commenced to split up. Snow still lay in the corries 



'59 



