The Yosemite
by John Muir
Affectionately dedicated
to my friend,
Robert Underwood Johnson,
faithful
lover and defender
of our glorious forests
and originator of
the Yosemite National Park.
Acknowledgment
On the early history of Yosemite the writer is indebted to Prof. J. D. Whitneyfor quotations from his volume entitled “Yosemite Guide-Book,” andto Dr. Bunnell for extracts from his interesting volume entitled“Discovery of the Yosemite.”
Contents
| Chapter 1. | The Approach to the Valley |
| Chapter 2. | Winter Storms and Spring Floods |
| Chapter 3. | Snow-Storms |
| Chapter 4. | Snow Banners |
| Chapter 5. | The Trees of the Valley |
| Chapter 6. | The Forest Trees in General |
| Chapter 7. | The Big Trees |
| Chapter 8. | The Flowers |
| Chapter 9. | The Birds |
| Chapter 10. | The South Dome |
| Chapter 11. | The Ancient Yosemite Glaciers: How the Valley Was Formed |
| Chapter 12. | How Best to Spend One’s Yosemite Time |
| Chapter 13. | Early History of the Valley |
| Chapter 14. | Lamon |
| Chapter 15. | Galen Clark |
| Chapter 16. | Hetch Hetchy Valley |
| Appendix A. | Legislation About the Yosemite |
| Appendix B. | Table of Distances |
| Appendix C. | Maximum Rates for Transportation |
Chapter 1
The Approach to the Valley
When I set out on the long excursion that finally led to California I wanderedafoot and alone, from Indiana to the Gulf of Mexico, with a plant-press on myback, holding a generally southward course, like the birds when they are goingfrom summer to winter. From the west coast of Florida I crossed the gulf toCuba, enjoyed the rich tropical flora there for a few months, intending to gothence to the north end of South America, make my way through the woods to theheadwaters of the Amazon, and float down that grand river to the ocean. But Iwas unable to find a ship bound for South America—fortunately perhaps,for I had incredibly little money for so long a trip and had not yet fullyrecovered from a fever caught in the Florida swamps. Therefore I decided tovisit California for a year or two to see its wonderful flora and the famousYosemite Valley. All the world was before me and every day w