“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” ― Henry David Thoreau, American Author From:   Walden or Life in the Woods  (1854) In an age when even wilderness must be scheduled, reserved, and secured with the quickness of a keystroke, the simple act of camping has acquired a paradoxical character. One seeks escape from civilization by first submitting to its most frantic rituals. Yose

"Shall we go, you and I, while we can Through The transitive nightfall of diamonds?" " "Dark Star" Song by the Grateful Dead (1968) Dark Star lyrics © Ice Nine Publishing Co., Inc. Every winter, as the temperatures drop and the granite walls of Yosemite Valley glint with a frosty solemnity, an unusual community stirs. They arrive with cameras, thermoses,  and a curious blend of reverence and excitement usually reserved for limited-edition vinyl releases or surprise tech produ

“We need to let robots take over. . . . Robots will do jobs we have been doing, and do them much better than we can. They will do jobs we can’t do at all. They will do jobs we never imagined even needed to be done. And they will help us discover new jobs for ourselves, new tasks that expand who we are. They will let us focus on becoming more human than we were. It is inevitable. Let the robots take our jobs, and let them help us dream up new work that matters.” Kevin Kelly,

"If you do not know the names of things, the knowledge of them is lost, too." Carl Linnaeus, Swedish Botanist (1707-1778) From: 25 Quotes by Carolus Linneaus   It is a truth universally acknowledged—at least by anyone who has ever tried to pronounce Koeleria  without sounding like a sneeze—that Latin, though elegant in theory, can be a cruel companion in the field. My inability to utilize this ancient language is, I suspect, one of the reasons I’ve managed to admire Yosemite’

“Moving pictures showing scenes from all parts of Yosemite National Park, including the great cataracts, waterwheels and avalanches in...

" . . . there must have been a countless host [of brides] from first to last who have gone away to remote places taking nothing but new...

“In the afternoon I worked on our camp outfit. It is complete . . . stove, bed, stools and a nice box to fasten on the running board to...

CONTINUED FROM PART 1 PUBLISHED IN APRIL 2025 I will review the 13 designated picnic sites and provide “Highlights” and “Lowlights”...

" . . . you were made out of soil, and you will once again turn into soil." Genesis 3:19, The Holy Scriptures The New Contemporary...

Of all the activities available to visitors in Yosemite National Park, one, in particular, stands out as producing a high rate of return...

About eighteen inches of sparkling snow blanketed the ground beneath the towering Giant Sequoias in the Mariposa Grove in southern...

I've been tryin' to get down to the heart of the matter But my will gets weak And my thoughts seem to scatter But I think it's about...

“The most successful bridges are those you feel compelled to pause upon and admire rather than simply cross.”   Renzo Piano  Italian...

“In mid-autumn, high upon the watershed of Yosemite Creek, a few raindrops fall . . . and then more . . . and more. “ I wrote those words...

“I just liked the matchup.” Aaron Boone, NY Yankees Manager, explaining why he chose reliever Nestor Cortes, who had not pitched in 37...

"The supreme end of education is expert discernment in all things – the power to tell the good from the bad, the genuine from the...

"I don't think I'm really in a situation to complain, because I consider myself to be privileged to be doing what I do." ...

“If you had to consider the needs of as many people as possible, including the foreign traveler, families with children of varying ages,...

In 2017, I created the “ Yosemeter .”   It allowed a quick look at determining the “best” month to spend time in Yosemite National Park...

Dear Mr. Dean: Upon learning of your decision to retire this summer (2024), I felt a wave of disappointment sweep over me considering the...