Editor's note: The following article from the Essential Park Guide, Fall 2018, was made possible thanks to advertiser support.
In 1922, Herbert Earl Wilson wrote a book about Yosemite National Park. More specifically, within the covers of The Lore and the Lure of Yosemite, he aspired to “create and foster in the Yosemite visitor an interest in that fast-dying race the Western Indian; in his mode of life, his customs, his religious beliefs and legends, in the days before the coming of the white man sounded the death knell of his people.”
The small book (pocket size at 7 inches by 5 inches) touches on Native American creation legends, the arrival of the Ah-wahnee- chees to the Yosemite Valley, their lifestyle, and customs. Of course, Wilson also wrote of the wonders of Yosemite—El Capitan, Bridal Veil Fall, Half Dome, even the “Big Trees of Mariposa Grove.”
Though not the first writer to regale Yosemite, Wilson, like many other authors, had a love for the park with a desire to build “an appreciation of the efforts of the splendid men who have made it possible as well as those who so efficiently administer its affairs.” Copies are still available.
There are many other Yosemite titles that might interest you. Here are just a few selections. You can find full reviews in our Fireside Reads section.
Big Walls, Swift Waters: Epic Stories from Yosemite Search and Rescue
When the Yosemite search and rescue men and women head out, they might be plucking a hiker from icy waters, evacuating a climber from a sheer cliff, or recovering the body of someone who wasn’t even that lucky.
There are hundreds of books about Yosemite National Park, including the iconic Ansel Adams black and white homage, and John Muir’s The Yosemite. It’s no wonder either, with its 1,200 square miles of mountains and canyons and valleys like nowhere else on Earth. Yosemite means so much to so many. This is another musthave for your library. It’s a rare combination of beautiful images along with heartfelt words by two masters of their crafts.
Personalities, towering granite walls, and historic photographs are at the heart and soul of Yosemite In The Fifties, a 176-page book that captures what is called the Iron Age of climbing in Yosemite National Park. There are some amazing perspectives on this incredible sport.
Even before the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916 predators were an issue in the national parks. Grizzly bears and wolves were apex predators that preyed on deer, elk, moose, and bison. As such, they were viewed as evil, rapacious carnivores that should be exterminated.
Yosemite Meditations for Adventurers
Words, it long has been said, take a backseat to photographs, but a collection of messages tied to the landscape of Yosemite National Park rise above the pictures.
John Muir Trail, The Essential Guide to Hiking America’s Most Famous Trail
By now, it’s getting a bit late to be hiking the entire John Muir Trail. In fact, you should be nearing the end of your trek. But if you’ve wondered about walking the walk, here’s the armchair book for you.
The Soul of Yosemite: Finding, Defending, And Saving The Valley’s Sacred Wild Nature
Does the National Park Service always make the correct choices? This book presents an insider’s view of what can go wrong in the decision-making process, why, and how to address them.
A century after John Muir published My First Summer in the Sierra, a 100th anniversary edition of the book has been released, with striking photography.
This book is a prequel of sorts to Paul Berkowitz’s earlier book about National Park Service malfeasance. Or Robert Danno’s own account of how he was pilloried by agency superiors after he charged that his superintendent ignored well-established federal laws and agency policies and procedures in showing deference to a billionaire.
Yosemite: The Embattled Wilderness
It was 15 years ago that Contributing Writer Alfred Runte came out with this title that examines how the competing forces of preservation and use have clashed at Yosemite National Park. The story hasn't ended, as Dr. Runte is putting the finishes touches to the 2nd edition of this book, with new material on, among other things, the battle over who owns the rights to such iconic Yosemite names as The Ahwahnee, Wawona, and Curry Village.
Yosemite & The Southern Sierra Nevada
For many a national park trip might cover several national parks. Just so you don’t need a different guidebook for each, this book covers the High Sierra parks of Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon.
Yosemite National Park is big and expansive, and so a book that captures its wonders in photographs must be large enough to take up most of your coffee table. This one does.
Ansel Adams in the National Parks
Long after his death we continue to celebrate the brilliance of Ansel Adams, who arguably defined landscape photography, often while working in national parks to capture the magnificence of nature.
The Changing Range of Light, Portraits of the Sierra Nevada
A gorgeous book of photography that captures the seasons of the High Sierra has arrived, but it comes with a pausing message that this beautiful landscape is changing before our eyes.
Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite
Death is the final appointment we can’t avoid, the one we most regret. And yet we’re fascinated with tragic deaths such as those that occur in the parks. For those fascinated by such stories, Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite is a must-read.
Pack along one or two of these books on your next Yosemite vacation. They’ll be sure to spur some interesting evening discussion. And if you’re wondering where to stay, consider one of the more than 100 properties at Yosemite’s Scenic Wonders Vacation Rentals. With homes in Yosemite West and Wawona, the park is right out the front door.
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