Walking With Muir Across Yosemite [Paperback]

Thomas R. Vale (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 6, 1998

Does todays visitor trekking Yosemite National Park find it much different from what John Muir encountered a century ago? Thomas and Geraldine Vale retrace Muirs path, based upon journal descriptions of his activities and experiences during his first summer in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. From the foothills through Yosemite Valley and on up to the Tuolumne Meadows, the Vales follow the present roads and trails that crossed Muirs route, imagining his reaction to the landscape while reflecting on the natural world in both his time and ours. Illustrated with drawings by John Muir and drawings and photos by the Vales, Walking with Muir across Yosemite emphasizes that current visitors to Yosemiteindeed to any national parkcan still experience the solitude, wildness, and romanticism of nature. They believe, however, that this modern exploration would benefit from a national parks policy that actively promotes nature study and encourages a more profound interaction between humans and the natural world.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Thomas and Geraldine Vale contribute their own observations of places beloved by the renowned naturalist John Muir, while seeking to portray "a holistic understanding" of him. Here the wonders of intimately experiencing Yosemite are explored as the Vales retrace Muir's footsteps as chronicled in My First Summer in the Sierra. Contemplating in a fashion similar to Muir's own sense of various locations, the Vales make note of the ways that Muir observed, discovered, and perceived Yosemite's terrain. Their study makes a pertinent document for anyone who appreciates the awesome beauty of Yosemite and shares in a concern for the future of one of the nation's most amazing landscapes. A final chapter looks at issues of public policy, contributing to an ongoing dialogue about the direction of this great national parkland. Alice Joyce --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Thomas R. Vale is professor of geography at the UW-Madison. He received his B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley. Geraldine R. Vale is a freelance writer and public school teacher. They are the coauthors of U.S. Forty Today: Thirty Years of Landscape Change in America, also published by the University of Wisconsin Press. Thomas Vale is co-editor, with Robert Ostergren, of Wisconsin Land and Life, also published by the Press.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press (April 6, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 029915694X
• ISBN-13: 978-0299156947
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,597,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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