140 years ago sheep were devastating the slopes and meadows of the Sierras and John Muir launched an effort — which took decades — to remove them. He wrote: It is impossible to conceive of a devastation more universal than is produced among the plants of the Sierra by sheep…The greass is eaten close andContinue reading ““Sheepwrecked” in Yosemite, Santa Cruz I., and the UK”
Tag Archives: John Muir
Muirtweets: Like a wind full of thistledown
A year or two ago I launched a Twitter stream devoted to the thoughts of a hero of mine, John Muir, believing that no one better inspires a person to explore nature. To be honest, found myself overwhelmed by life and dropped that thread for a while, only to pick up my current edition ofContinue reading “Muirtweets: Like a wind full of thistledown”
John Muir, meet RuPaul. RuPaul, meet…
You have to know hiking/backpacking is surging in popularity when TV stars take it up. From the fluffy Saturday section in the Los Angeles Times, a charming interview with the famous drag queen/unway artist RuPaul: How has your life changed since you picked it up? I feel great throughout the day because I've gotten so muchContinue reading “John Muir, meet RuPaul. RuPaul, meet…”
Indian summer snowfall in the Sierra: John Muir
John Muir wrote poetry almost unconsciously. Or so it seems. For him metaphors — such as the idea of a land of clouds — were embedded in his thinking from his early days, and evolved easily into poems (though they're easier to see with a few line breaks). Here's an entry in his journal fromContinue reading “Indian summer snowfall in the Sierra: John Muir”
The richness of the light of these days: John Muir
Warm and bright, the valley was spanned by fibrous bows of white cloud, heated masses of air from currentless ovens of chambered and bushy rocks lifted by newborn winds and bourne whole or in fragments about the open gulf of the valley…the richness of the light of these days recalls our best mellow autumns andContinue reading “The richness of the light of these days: John Muir”
Dreamed in the sunbeams: John Muir
From his unpublished journals written in his sheep-herding days, before Muir came to stay in Yosemite Valley: Dreamed in the sunbeams, when the sheep were calm, the plan of a hermitage: walls of pure white quartz, doors and windows edged with quartz crystals, windows of thin smooth sheets of water with ruffling apparatus to answerContinue reading “Dreamed in the sunbeams: John Muir”
The Grand Canyon of the Colorado: l901
From Our National Parks, published in 1901: No matter how far you have wandered hitherto, or how many famous gorges and valleys you have seen, this one, the Grand Cañon of the Colorado, will seem as novel to you, as unearthly in the color and grandeur and quantity of its architecture, as if you hadContinue reading “The Grand Canyon of the Colorado: l901”
Science never saw a ghost: John Muir
After a few years in the Sierra, encouraged by friends, in the 1870's John Muir quit his job running a sawmill in Yosemite Valley and began to explore the Sierra mountains in earnest. At the same time he began to take scraps of paper along with him on his forays into the higher elevations, andContinue reading “Science never saw a ghost: John Muir”
A Hymn to the Parks (behind the scenes with Ken Burns)
Those who like "behind the scenes" type looks will enjoy a profile of Ken Burns' friend and documentary co-writer, Dayton Duncan, available through The Pennsylvania Gazette. The research Duncan and Burns brought to the subject of the national parks impresses. Here's Duncan on John Muir's persuasive powers: “John Muir was an eloquent person, but theContinue reading “A Hymn to the Parks (behind the scenes with Ken Burns)”
Muir Lake: Another Perfect Day
Was I really here? A little over a week ago? Can't quite believe it…miss it already. I know that posting vacation pics is a little cheesy in this oh-so-serious blog, but here's my justification: One day's exposure to mountains is better than cartloads of books. See how willingly Nature poses herself upon photographers' plates. NoContinue reading “Muir Lake: Another Perfect Day”
Kit Stolz 