“One day’s exposure to mountains is better than a cartload of books.” – John Muir “Red exhaustion rips at your throat and salt sweat spills off your forehead and mats your eyelids and brows… The long distant runner is paid by the snap of a white thread across his chest. You are paid by the … [Read more…]
“What is above knows what is below, but what is below does not know what is above.” – Renee Daumal EVERY HUMAN BEING should be fortunate enough to sleep at least one night on top of a mountain, under a starry blanket. John Muir exhorted his followers, “go to the mountains and get their good … [Read more…]
Dear Lowell and Christie, The first day I walked through the door to room 103 I had no idea how an advanced Biology class would influence the rest of my life. Some of the concepts we learned and the ideas we shared took shape as threads that would be intricately woven into the fabric of my life. … [Read more…]
After Biodesign students explored Yosemite, Grand Canyon and the Mendocino coast, it was not uncommon for them to vow publicly (or privately) to return to one of the areas when they became adults. I have no record of how many achieved that goal, but I do know of one ex-student who has climbed Half Dome … [Read more…]
The Biodesign Class of 1978 was only the second class to reach the top of Yosemite’s world-famous Half Dome. They donned their backpacks and labored for 10 miles while gaining nearly 5,000 feet of elevation. The last ½ mile involved climbing a steep series of granite stairs and ascending 400 feet of twin cables up … [Read more…]
“Loren Eiseley is less concerned about man conquering nature than nature, in the form of God, conquering the human heart.” Time Magazine. AFTER nearly 75 years, I have concluded that life is mostly (if not totally) a journey into mystery. E.g. how could I have possibly guessed that a simple, innocent question from a student … [Read more…]
Transcendent: adjective; transcendent is extraordinary or beyond human experience. I highly recommend viewing the beautiful and informative video that the NPS did on Half Dome. Yosemite Nature Notes – Half Dome I was supremely blessed to have slept on top of The Dome with 20 biology classes (when it was still legal). Each night offered … [Read more…]