162 pp, color photos. John Muir was one of America's first mountaineers, with numerous ascents in the Sierra including Mounts Ritter and Whitney. This new book combines all his mountaineering writings. How ironic it is for John Muir, the patron saint of Yosemite Valley, to be honored in the last year of the 20th century with a book that shows how much of his hard work has been callously discarded. He would weep with frustration at the sight of his beloved valley today: traffic congestion, supermarkets and gift shops vying for space, visitors rushing from one attraction to another, and mountaineers racing up his beloved peaks.
White, an environmental writer, presents Muir's writings in all of their poetic loveliness, and Muir's adventures on mountains around the world will thrill readers of all ages. White wonderfully captures the solitary splendor of Muir's often singlehanded fight against the tides of progress to save as much precious land as possible. Highly recommended for all public libraries, especially those in areas touched by Muir's legacy. New Paperback.
