I’ve been watching Ken Burns: The National Parks: America’s Best Idea documentary series. I am in love. Not many people see America as being a scenic and beautiful place. Most people who vacation here go to the busy cities and hardly ever visit the natural parks that America has to offer.
John Muir is my new idol. He was a Scottish immigrant who studied Yosemite Valley and petitioned for it to become a National Park. He was a true wilderness man, opening himself up to the harsh wild of the Yosemite valley. He would climb trees during thunderstorms to see what it feels like to be a tree in a storm. John Muir built a cabin with a stream flowing through a corner of his cabin so he could fall asleep to the gurgling noises from the creek. I hope to one day hike the John Muir Trail just so I can walk in his foot steps.
Last year I went to Yosemite and I think it’s amazing that I got to see what he saw. It really is one of those places where the actual view dwarf the images you create in your head.You feel small in the world. I’m excited to see more mountains and stare at more stars in a few weeks.
Here are some pictures of my 2009 West Coast trip. This year I revisit SF and visit Sequoia National Park. More pictures to come.
