Chapter 1: Looking for the Mountain
* Summary: Nan Shepherd introduces her journey to the Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland. She describes her first encounter with the mountains and her longing to understand their essence.
* Real Example: "The mountain, on its side overlooking the corrie, was a great concave wall of granite, in which the frost and rain had scooped out long, straight channels. I had never seen anything like this before, and stood entranced."
Chapter 2: Weather
* Summary: Shepherd explores the profound impact of weather on the mountain's character. She describes the shifting moods and conditions, from storms to clear skies, and their transformative effect on the landscape.
* Real Example: "The sky was a wild welter of cloud, with great rolls like smoke uncoiling from the upper air. The wind from the north-west was strong but fitful, sending squalls of rain that slewed across our faces with a disconcerting violence."
Chapter 3: The Granite
* Summary: Shepherd examines the geological history of the mountains, focusing on the granite that forms their core. She describes the erosion and shaping of the rock by ice and water, revealing the intricate patterns and textures of the landscape.
* Real Example: "The harder granite, like ice, had been cracked and splintered by the cold, and as it thawed and crumbled, the softer schists had been washed away by the torrents of water."
Chapter 4: The Animal
* Summary: Shepherd observes the wildlife inhabiting the mountains, from ptarmigan to deer. She describes their adaptation to the harsh environment and their interconnectedness with the landscape.
* Real Example: "The ptarmigan chicks were the most charming of all, soft as little balls of fur, with their round black eyes and their tiny coral legs."
Chapter 5: The Vegetable
* Summary: Shepherd examines the plant life of the mountains, from heather to wildflowers. She describes their resilience and beauty, and their role in creating the unique ecosystem of the Cairngorms.
* Real Example: "Heather was in bloom, a purple tapestry spread over the slopes, and the heather-beds were humming with bees."
Chapter 6: The Air
* Summary: Shepherd explores the significance of air in the mountain environment. She describes the clear air of high altitudes, the scents and sounds of the landscape, and the role of air in shaping the weather and sustaining life.
* Real Example: "The air was so clear that I could see the white summit of Ben Nevis, a hundred miles away in the south-west."
Chapter 7: The Landscape
* Summary: Shepherd synthesizes her observations of weather, geology, wildlife, and plant life to create a unified understanding of the mountain landscape. She describes the interconnectedness of the different elements and the beauty and grandeur of the Cairngorms.
* Real Example: "The whole mountain, in its living grandeur, in its remoteness and its intimacy, in its sternness and its tenderness, became a personal experience."
