Wild Yosemite: Personal Accounts of Adventure, Discovery, and Nature

by Susan M. Neider (Editor), Bruce Hamilton (Introduction)

This beautiful literary collection explores the spectacular natural features of Yosemite through the eyes of some of the mostextraordinarily talented writers. In 1851, Lafayette Bunnell chronicled his travels with the Mariposa Battalion, the first non-natives to visit Yosemite Valley. Following in his footsteps, Theodore Roosevelt, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Mark Twain, Clarence King, Frederick Law Olmsted, Joaquin Miller, and Horace Greeley made their pilgrimages and were moved to recount their observations. Included here as well is the work of John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, whose love for Yosemite led to the establishment of Yosemite National Park in 1890. This lyrical book is a tribute to Yosemite’s gorgeous landscape and will be a joy to everyone who loves this special piece of America.

Genres: Nature, Travel

224 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2007

Reviews

[Erin Thedwall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent selection of stories; I would have enjoyed more that focused on the experience of Yosemite (the Teddy Roosevelt chapters come to mind) and fewer detailing the flora/fauna, types of rocks, etc.

[Mary · Rating 1 out of 5]

I love Yosemite, but this was not my cup of tea. Collection of essays by people like John Muir. Really a collection of scientific flora and fauna essays; a little too technical (boring), and dated for me.

[James (JD) Dittes · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice array of recollections of Yosemite, the latest of which is Theodore Roosevelt's thoughts, interspersed with detailed observations from the journals of John Muir.

[Arrel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good and interesting read before, or especially after, you visit.

Mark Twain, John Muir, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Teddy Roosevelt, Frederick Law Olmstead, Horace Greely and more.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read part of this before our trip to Yosemite and part of it at Yosemite. It was amazing to stand at Glacier Point and look over at all the other mountains and realize that John Muir hiked over almost all of them! He had some truly amazing adventures in his months at Yosemite.