My First Summer in the Sierra (Illustrated)

Following the American Civil War, John Muir joined a group of shepherds to herd 2,500 sheep into the breathtaking landscape of Yosemite in the Sierra Mountains - this is their story. Having previously worked in a sawmill and as a wagon wheel maker, by 1869 John Muir was already a man of impressive skill and hands-on know-how. After a machine tool inflicted him with temporary blindness he was given a new lease on life: he resolved to explore and catalog North...
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Following the American Civil War, John Muir joined a group of shepherds to herd 2,500 sheep into the breathtaking landscape of Yosemite in the Sierra Mountains - this is their story.

Having previously worked in a sawmill and as a wagon wheel maker, by 1869 John Muir was already a man of impressive skill and hands-on know-how. After a machine tool inflicted him with temporary blindness he was given a new lease on life: he resolved to explore and catalog North America's wildernesses, to behold and appreciate the immense beauty of the natural world.

Following his famous thousand mile walk from Kentucky to Florida, Muir's natural inclination for adventure led him westward. After a time in California, he felt the urge to explore Yosemite; a place already renowned for its stunning vistas and awe-inspiring topography. Hearing of employment opportunities in shepherding, Muir soon embarked on a journey with a large sheep flock as part of a team of herders.

Much of this book chronicles the amazing natural beauty of the Yosemite area: the huge sequoia forests; the towering cliffs; thundering waterfalls; striking views; the brisk, fresh air and cool climate. Muir gained more than mere joy from beholding the glory of the Sierras: he would later become an active preservationist, campaigning for more ground to be protected permanently from resource or other exploitation.

Muir's recording of his journey did much to raise public awareness of the area's natural beauty. Over the forthcoming decades, Yosemite was explored and admired by millions. In 1890, it was given National Park status and designated as a protected wilderness - by 1903, an elderly John Muir convinced fellow outdoorsman President Theodore Roosevelt to assign control of Yosemite to the federal government.