'When a man plants a tree, he plants himself. Every root is an
anchor, over which he rests with grateful interest, and becomes
sufficiently calm to feel the joy of living.' Steep Trails
encompasses a delightful mix of John Muir's essays and adventure
narratives, spanning a period of twenty-nine years. The selections
included in this book are varied: ranging from geological studies
to stories of the people and towns he encounters throughout his
exploits. As Muir expert Terry Gifford observes in the foreword,
'Most of Steep Trails' chapters are dispatches from Muir as
travelling correspondent with a mixture of insights into local
cultures, criticism of pollution and enthusiasm for everything
wild.' Muir's refreshing philosophy of being 'at one' with nature
shines through every account he details, as does his agenda for
environmental activism - to treat wildness lovingly, rather than
selfishly for material greed. Covering mostly the western regions
of the states, California, Washington, Nevada, The Grand Canyon,
Oregon and Utah; Steep Trails showcases Muir's passion continuously
as he climbs mountains, bathes in lakes, and sketches his findings.
Muir's classic extended metaphors and knowledgeable tone are
present throughout, making for both an enjoyable and educational
read. The enthusiasm contained within these pages is infectious,
and as well as simply describing the beauty he sees, Muir will
inspire you too, to 'go and see for yourselves' the rewards of
studying the endless gift of nature: 'Surely faithful and loving
skill can go no farther in putting the multitudinous decorated
forms on paper. But the colours, the living, rejoicing colours,
chanting morning and evening in chorus to heaven! Whose brush or
pencil, however lovingly inspired, can give us these? And if paint
is of no effect, what hope lies in pen-work? Only this: some may be
incited by it to go and see for themselves.'
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