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Often considered the father of the National Parks system, John Muir was at his best surrounded by nature. Naturalist and mountaineer at heart as well as co-founder of the Sierra Club, he spent much of his time writing about his adventures…in order to help encourage the preservation of the land he loved. With a zeal bordering on religious passion, his words combine science and poetry to paint a picture of natural phenomena few at that time had experienced.
Wilderness Essays collects some of his best essays highlighting his love for the natural world. From the moment he first laid eyes on Glacier Bay in Alaska…to the intricate weather patterns and behaviors of animals in Yosemite…to the natural wonders (and first tours) of Yellowstone…you can walk alongside Muir and discover these places anew through his eyes and words.
There are other collections available as well (though read through the table of contents, because some essays appear in multiple collections) including Our National Parks, My First Summer in the Sierra, Travels in Alaska, and Steep Trails.
I have a trip to Alaska planned next spring and it was incredible to hear a firsthand description of the moment Muir first saw the tidewater glaciers of Glacier Bay (I hope I feel just a fraction of the awe he described feeling). Hearing how similar many of the first tourist excursions were to the trip I’ll be taking was eye opening as well!
