Steep Trails

The papers brought together in this volume have, in a general way, been arranged in chronological sequence. They span a period of twenty-nine years of Muir's life, during which they appeared as letters and articles, for the most part in publications of limited and local circulation. The Utah and Nevada sketches, and the two San Gabriel papers, were contributed, in the form of letters, to the San Francisco Evening Bulletin toward the end of the seventies. Written in the field, they preserve the freshness of the author's first impressions of those regions.

A collection of essays exploring 29 years of beloved naturalist John Muir’s life as he explored the West. Considered one of the patron saints of twentieth-century environmental activity, John Muir's appeal to modern readers is that he not only explored the American West but also fought for its preservation. Steep Trails collects together his essays and letters written as he traveled through the West, capturing the personal, heartfelt connection he had with the lands he roamed. Muir’s writing intimately connects the reader to the heart of nature; as the world increasingly tries to reconnect with the earth, Steep Trails offers the funny, charming, educational, and exalted wanderings of John Muir over nearly three decades of his life. John Muir was a Scottish-born American naturalist, author, early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States, and founder of The Sierra Club. His letters, essays, and books of his adventures in nature have been read by millions.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Reproduction of the original.

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Muir (1838-1914), also known as 'John of the Mountains' and 'Father of the National Parks', was an influential Scottish-American naturalist, author, environmental philosoper, glaciologist, and early advocate for the preservation of wilderness in the US. His activism helped preserve the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and many other wilderness areas, and the Sierra Club, which he co-founded in 1892, remains a prominent conservation organization. The spiritual quality and enthusiasm for nature expressed in his writings has inspired readers, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to preserve large nature areas. Muir's family emigrated from Scotland to the US in 1849, starting a farm in Portage, Wisconsin, and aged 22 Muir enrolled at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Although he never graduated he learned enough geology and botany to inform his later wanderings. This collection of sketches was published posthumously in 1918. The book includes an introduction by, and is edited by, Muir's literary executor and biographer, William Frederic Bade, who first met Muir through the Sierra Club. It is illustrated with photographs, and includes a frontispiece by Allan Brooks and a facsimile of the original cover.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.