This work, a collection of essays on the natural world during a year spent in the Blue Ridge valley of Virginia, reflects the author's interactions with her wilderness surroundings. The author takes us through a year of on-foot explorations through her own landscape, bringing anecdotes, curiosities, and insights about all she observes and experiences. In the summer, she stalks muskrats in the creek and thinks about wave mechanics; in the fall, she...

Index, maps and bibliography in Volume II Includes gazetteer, bibliography, index and map of Colorado

John Muir, famous for his naturalist essays and books, was over 70 years old when he wrote "The Yosemite" as a reflection on the beauty of the national park. Muir was a naturalist, so he was highly invested in describing the landscape, flora, and fauna of Yosemite National Park. He even said that "no temple with manmade hands can compare with Yosemite." Muir knew the terrain well, having hiked and climbed Cathedral Peak, Mount Dana, and the old Indian...

"The Naturalist's Companion provides skills and guidance on how to increase awareness in nature to enable readers to observe animals. The author covers stealth walking, calling, tracking, interpreting animal behavior, understanding seasonal cycles, and more"--

Millions of years ago, incredible forces ripped apart the Earth's crust, creating our seven continents, each with its own distinct climate, its own distinct terrain, and its own unique animal life. From the colorful paradise of South America to the scorching heat of Africa, this showcases the true character of each continent in turn and reveals just how it has shaped all life there.

Part of John Muir's appeal to modern readers is that he not only explored the American West and wrote about its beauties but also fought for their preservation. His successes dot the landscape and are evident in all the natural features that bear his name: forests, lakes, trails, and glaciers. Here collected are some of Muir's finest wilderness essays, ranging in subject matter from Alaska to Yellowstone, from Oregon to the High Sierra.