You’ve heard of John Muir, right? Famous naturalist, founder of the Sierra club, founder of Yosemite and other national parks…
If you head out to the Sierra mountains or to Yosemite, you’re sure to see his image in gift shops and souvenier stands. Out west you’ll find his name on schools, and monuments, and trails and national historic sites. If you look him up on Google, you’ll find online stores, with hats and mugs and pins and stickers galore.
Muir was a prolific writer, environmental philosopher, zoologist, botanist… yes, and a racist as well, as the Sierra Club now admits, though they point out that his views evolved for the better later in life.
But most of all – John Muir was an avid walker. Muir walked and walked. He hiked from Indiana to Florida. He hiked the Great Central Valley of California, the Sierra and Nevada mountains, the great glaciers of Alaska. He hiked and he hiked.
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
John Muir
The Benefits of Taking a Walk
And many a person will agree, that taking a walk is good for the body, good for the soul, and often, good for the planet.
- Good for the body – Leading dieticians will tell you how walking can help you lose weight, lower BMI, curb sugar cravings, and more. Health advocates will tell you how walking improves your heart, bones, musles, energy, balance, mood, and immunity.
- Good for the soul – John Muir will tell you “Keep close to Nature’s heart… and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods. Wash your spirit clean.” Psychologists will advocate taking a walk to ward off depression and generally help with mental health. Ecotherapists will walk you off the couch and into the forest to help you get better.
- Good for the planet – Environmentalists will tell you how walking helps reduce car emissions, reduce noise pollution, and, when kept in mind by urban planners and policy makers, enables happier, eco-friendlier environments.
Take a Hike With John Muir
So, keep John Muir’s spirit in mind, and go out and take a hike.
To get you ready, download and read a free graphic novel of John Muir’s life, courtesy of the Scottish Book Trust.
Read of John Muir’s own walking adventures in his own poetic words, in books he wrote, including A Thousand Mile Walk to the Gulf.
But most of all, keep his words in mind – “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”
Now go get those hiking boots on!
