The Yosemite Book

Reading "The Yosemite" was my first experience reading John Muir's prose. His descriptions are amazing. I read most of the book on a backpacking trip in Yosemite, and I cherish this opportunity to read Muir's descriptions of the very place I was visiting. Muir's words are oft quoted, and now I understand why. His writing is poetic and moving, and so much of what he says speaks to soul.

John Muir is skilled at painting with words. Reading about a waterfall, you can see how the water descends and hear the thundering sound. His descriptions of the trees are better than any field guide. His adventure stories are exciting. His love for his subject comes through with such enthusiasm, you can't help but be captivated by his narration of nature's beauty.

This edition of the book has strange formatting, with huge margins including over two inches of blank space at the bottom of the pages. At first I was annoyed by this, especially as this extra paper amounts to extra weight that I packed in on my hiking trip. But once I was enthralled in the words, I realized I should use that space to note the most special passages and perhaps write my own observations of the landmarks and forests he explains.