My First Summer in the Sierra

It was June of 1869 when John Muir reluctantly accepted a job herding sheep from the central valley of California to the headwaters of the Merced and Tuolumne Rivers high into the Sierra Nevadas and deep into the Yosemite region. He felt ill equipped for the work and yet the opportunity thrilled his adventurous spirit. With a notebook tied to his belt he set out for a summer he would never forget. My First Summer in the Sierra is Muirs classic account of that extraordinary journey. It was not published until 1911 by which time he had become well known for his work as a naturalist and conservationist. One hundred years later we can still experience Muirs transcendent joy as he climbed the mountains explored the lakes and streams and studied the regions flowers and trees. His words have since beckoned countless travelers to Yosemite National Park.