John Muir: The Guardian of Nature

A portrait of John Muir.www.sierracollege.edu 

Superheroes. The fantasy that society believes in. People who commit themselves to saving the world with superhuman powers. However, unlike the modern figure of a superhero, heroes are found nearly everywhere in society. Heroism is an act of courage for an ideal in the bigger picture. It is when one makes a sacrifice for the greater good of others. Heroism is not specifically restricted to those that protect the world against supernatural events or enemies. Being heroic can be an act as simple as a child picking up a piece of trash compared to a teacher dedicating his/her life to teach his/her students or even a firefighter risking his/her life in a burning house to save people’s lives. However, more importantly, those that fight for their beliefs and morals, especially those that fight to protect the wilderness from harm, defines heroism. People with heroic character share two key traits: passion and integrity. A person worthy of receiving the title of a hero is extremely dedicated to his/her passion and stays true to his/her own values.

One person worthy of being called a hero is John Muir. John Muir grew up to be an American naturalist, explorer, and preservationist. Muir was born in Scotland on April 21, 1838, and when he was 11 years old, he moved from Scotland to America. In his childhood, his father beat Muir if he decided to live freely from religious merit. This caused Muir to seek a future full of life and passion. At first, in 1863, Muir dedicated his work into machinery. Only after when he was nearly blinded in 1867, Muir claimed that he was “reborn” and sought a life as a protector of nature. As a result, Muir spent most of his time writing and wandering in the wilderness, traveling far and wide to witness nature’s beauty. A very memorable journey was recorded in his book, My First Summer in the Sierra, where Muir joins a few shepherds guiding thousands of sheep across the Sierra Nevada. Once he saw the beauty and magnificence of nature with his own eyes, Muir decided to take action, trying to protest against the destruction the environment with all of his power. In 1873, he moved to Oakland, using the memories he had about the trips to write many articles in leading magazines. One of the most influential actions was the foundation of The Sierra Club in 1892. In addition, in 1903, Muir took a camping trip with President Theodore Roosevelt, marking the point where he convinced the President to enlarge Yosemite National Park. Because of his influence on nature and on society, his name is forever remembered in all the places he was named after, including Muir Woods National Monument. His works still continue to influence modern society through National Parks and organizations even after his death. Currently, the Sierra Club is an organization that protects about 250 million acres of land with the help of about 3 million supporters. John Muir possesses two important and significant traits: passion and integrity. Passion is dedication to one’s task or purpose. Integrity is being true to one’s own beliefs. Muir uses both of these traits in his actions to persuade the public to support his cause of preservation what’s left of nature. John Muir achieves the title of an inspirational figure through devoting countless time and efforts to his beliefs and displaying tremendous integrity in his actions.

John Muir sitting on a rock in the Sierra Nevada.americaslibrary.govAs a result of unwavering studying towards his values and perseverant returns into the field of nature, John Muir demonstrates deep passion towards the environment. As shown in John Muir’s book, My First Summer in the Sierra, he travels a vast distance with a few shepherds on a path into the Sierras, investigating the vegetation along the way: “Most of the ferns are in their prime, —rock ferns on the sunny hillsides, cheilanthes, pellaea, gymnogramme; woodwardia, aspidium, woodsia along the stream banks, and the common Pteris aquilina on sandy flats” (Muir 40). The specific words that Muir uses, “cheilanthes” or “pellaea” demonstrates his ability to identify random plants in the Sierra. In order to attain this level of mastery on plants, Muir must have worked hard through constant studying and practicing his knowledge on identifying plants. In addition, he wrote the book at a time when he was well past his 40’s, coming along his 50’s. For Muir to study botany until such an old age shows his commitment in botany. Passion is an important trait of a hero. Being passionate allows a hero to take consideration of his roles or tasks. Likewise, Muir demonstrated his passion in botany, truly showing his commitment and love into that field of science. Another example is even after John Muir marries Louisa Wanda Strentzel, he still decides to pursue the path towards defending nature: “He married Louie Wanda Strentzel and turned her family's farm in Martinez, California, into a profitable orchard business. But he grew restless to immerse himself in nature again, and, at Louie's urging, he traveled to Alaska's Glacier Bay and Washington's Mount Rainier. His writings brought national attention to two more places that would eventually become national parks” ("John Muir"). Marriage has a huge impact on many people’s lives, it can steer one away from who they want to be. However, Muir isn’t affected by marriage, he continues on with his passion. Muir manages to not only return back into nature, but he even continues on writing articles and newspapers about his experiences in the wilderness to bring attention to his ideals. The fact that his ability to bring national attention to certain places demonstrates his dedication in nature. Muir chooses to use his skills in writing to write about nature instead of other topics. He focused on his writings about nature in order to protect it. Heroes must have this type of passion because it drives the hero to keep going and never give up. Like Muir, heroes must be able to come back even under certain circumstances and temptations. Through his passionate actions, John Muir decided to make a commitment to nature and began to start working towards his beliefs.

Being a man of honor and respect, John Muir displays his integrity through acting out against the public to preserve the environment. As described throughout his book, My First Summer in the Sierra, Muir intrigues his readers by describing the Sierran scenery: “Contemplating the lace-like fabric of streams outspread over the mountains, we are reminded that everything is flowing- going somewhere, animals and so-called lifeless rocks as well as water. Thus the snow flows fast or slow in grand beauty-making glaciers and avalanches; the air in majestic floods carrying minerals, plant leaves, seeds, spores with streams of music and fragrance...” (Muir 236). Muir’s description of the scenery causes one’s mind to expand and imagine what he has to say. He does this to try to convince the readers into admiring how amazing nature is. Muir uses this fashion of writing to show the readers how nature must be preserved and protected in order to maintain its current magnificence. This demonstrates Muir’s integrity in his works. He stays true to his values of being a preservationist and uses all of his power to fulfil his duty. Like Muir, a hero must possess the qualities of integrity. If a hero doesn’t follow his own word, his words are just empty morals. However, unlike a hypocrite, Muir does, in fact, follow his words and tries to set a good example. Another example is when John Muir attempts to enlarge National Parks through his writings: “The catalyst was their famous camping trip to Tuolumne Meadows in 1889. Each seemed to have thought the trip was a way to inspire the other to do something to save the High Sierra from the sheep which Muir felt were rapidly altering the sub-alpine environment. Muir wrote two long articles on Yosemite, advocating a National Park to surround what was then the state-run Yosemite Valley. Johnson published the articles and lobbied energetically. Congress complied with this emotional and literary onslaught, creating a National Park that included almost all the present-day park plus the southeastern area down to Devil’s Postpile that was excised in 1905 when the Valley was taken from state control and added to the National Park” (“Selected Websites on John Muir's Life and Works”). Muir decides to do everything in his power to spread the ideal of the preservation of nature. As a result of Muir’s establishment of the National Parks, the certain areas of wilderness under the protection of the National Parks has indeed been protected and maintained its magnificence. Because of this, Muir spread the word to others in the nation that nature must be protected. Heroes must have integrity because it drives the hero to do what he says. Similarly, Muir has integrity which caused him to spread the word of his ideals. Muir uses his integrous writings and actions to inspire the public to join in on the cause of preserving the wilderness.

John Muir showing Theodore Roosevelt what is now known as Yosemite National Park. John Muir the one on the right.www.history.comJohn Muir’s passionate and integrous character displays the traits of a heroic figure, mainly through his writings and acts to preserve the environment. Muir shows passion through his actions, always seeking to preserve the environment first before anything else. He studied hard, being able to memorize and identify certain plants. In addition, he demonstrates integrity through his writings, trying to persuade his readers to support the idea of preservationism. He also acted towards protecting nature from any kind of harm through creating the Sierra Club and National Parks. John Muir serves as an inspirational figure to many people, especially to me. Muir serves as a role model from his personality; he is someone who isn't a hypocrite, but someone full of integrity. He is also very successful in his goals. Muir manages to convince President Theodore Roosevelt to support his cause and manages to successfully establish the Sierra Club, an influential organization working towards preserving the environment. In addition, Muir manages to work so hard to achieve his goals that the people around him name Muir as “The Greatest Californian”: “In 1976, the California Historical Society voted him ‘The Greatest Californian.’ The U.S. Geological Survey has suggested an even greater mark of his fame. In their guidelines on naming mountains and lakes after individuals, it gives Muir as the example of someone who has had so many things named for him already that they would not be likely to approve any further such commemorations” (“A Brief Biography on John Muir”). Even more than being named “The Greatest Californian” Muir’s name was used to name so many things that his name was prevented from being used to name mountains or lakes. Personally, Muir acts like someone that I want to be just like; someone who is successful, someone that doesn't get put down, and especially someone that stands out. Also, the knowledge he possesses is incredible, being able to memorize and identify those certain plants is unfathomable. Even his writing inspires me, his usage of his words causes me to also want to preserve the environment and make sure no harm is done to nature. Like John Muir, we should all aim to be heroic figures, not ones with superhuman powers, but those that have the passion and integrity to act out towards people around them.

A picture showing the very beginning of the Sierra Club. John Muir the the 4th person from the right.https://vault.sierraclub.org 

Works Cited

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My First Summer in the Sierra

Muir, John. My First Summer in the Sierra. Houghton Mifflin, 1911.

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