My First Summer in the Sierra: John Muir's Enlightenment Handbook

｜Curated, Selected, and Guided by Chan Wai-hung — The First Work in Locus Publishing's 2020 New Mountain Literature Series "meters"｜

—— A Long-form Special Introduction by Robert Macfarlane, Author of "The Old Ways" and "Mountains of the Mind" ——

"I am glad that I am not great enough for the busy world to miss me."

Acclaimed alongside "Walden" and "A Sand County Almanac"
The initial inspiration of John Muir, the Father of National Parks and a Pioneer of the Environmental Movement
A century-old classic that awakened the world's attention to nature and environmental conservation

John Muir, one of the most important natural philosophers and writers in contemporary America, was also an inventor, biologist, geologist, and explorer. From the late 19th century, he began promoting modern environmental and nature conservation movements. His diaries, articles, and speeches sparked environmental awareness internationally, leading to the creation of numerous national parks and nature reserves. He is hailed as the "Father of National Parks" and the "Father of the Modern Environmental Movement." Throughout his life, he published over 300 articles and more than a dozen important works, documenting his natural philosophy and environmental ideals. His innovations and achievements in nature literature put him on par with Emerson, Thoreau, and others, profoundly influencing future generations.

Muir's burgeoning awareness of nature conservation began with the summer documented in this book.

In 1869, Muir was invited to spend an entire summer with shepherds and their flocks, touring the Sierra Nevada Mountains. There, he conducted research on plants, animals, and rocks, and was deeply moved by the beauty and ecology of the mountains. During this period, he wrote many essays and prose pieces, profoundly and directly recording what he saw and heard in the mountains, and the inspirations he received.

"The first sight of the Sierra Nevada, the first view down into Yosemite, the first sound of the Yosemite Creek's death song, and the sight of this creek flying over the huge precipice, each of these was enough to become the most precious treasure of a lifetime. This was the most memorable day, one could even die of ecstasy."

"Sleeping in the mountain air is like death, and upon waking, life is renewed! The tranquil dawn is yellow and purple, followed by the golden sunlight, coloring everything with its radiance."

"There is no pain here, no dull empty time, no fear of the past, no panic about the future. The mountains are blessed by God, full of divine beauty, with no room for trivial personal hopes or experiences. Drinking water like champagne is pure joy, as is breathing life-giving air; the movement of limbs is pure enjoyment, and the whole body feels it when encountering beauty, just as the warmth of a campfire or sunlight is not only perceived by the eyes but also by the skin, producing an ineffable, intense joy. The body seems to become harmoniously simple, as complete as a crystal."

"In the pages of the towering mountains, one reads of heat and cold, calm and storm, raging volcanoes and earth-grinding glaciers—a myriad of wonders. Thus we see that nature's destruction is actually creation, transforming between different beauties."

The experiences of this summer had a decisive impact on him, leading him to dedicate his life to nature conservation, prompting the US government to enact forest conservation policies, and leading to the establishment of the world's first national park, Yosemite National Park. In this book, he candidly and honestly records what he saw and heard in the mountains during this period, and the insights, admiration, and revelations that nature brought him. With his exquisite prose, the unadorned beauty of nature leaps off the page. Even though the work was completed over a century ago, we can still follow the text back to those undeveloped mountains and forests, and with pure spiritual eyes, experience the pristine beauty of nature and its irreplaceable value.