Title:
Letter from John Muir to [Jeanne C.] Carr, [1873] Oct 2.
Creator:
John Muir
Publisher:
University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections. Please contact this institution directly to obtain copies
of the images or permission to publish or use them beyond educational purposes.
Contributor:
[Jeanne C.] Carr
Date:
[1873] Oct 2
2008
Type:
Text
Format:
Image/jpeg2000
Identifier:
muir02_1198-md-1
Source:
Original letter dimensions: 25 x 39.5 cm.
Language:
eng
Coverage:
…8 or 10 miles SEfrom…the N Fork of Kings River
Rights:
Copyrighted
The unpublished works of John Muir are copyrighted by the Muir-Hanna Trust. To purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission
to publish or exhibit them, see
http://library.pacific.edu/ha/forms
Muir-Hanna Trust
1984
Transcription:
1 1873 Camp in dear bonnie grove where the pines meet the foot-hill oaks. about 8 or 10 miles S E from the confluence of
the N Fork of Kings River with the trunk Oct 2d ? Dear Mrs Carr, After Clarks departure a week ago we climbed the divide
between the S Fork of the San Joaquin Kings R I scanned the vast landscape on wh the ice had written wondrous things. After
a short scientific feast I decided to attempt entering the valley of the West branch of the N Fork wh we did following the
bottom of the Valley for about 10 miles then was compelled to ascend the W side of the Can into the forest About 6 ms farther
down we made out to reenter the Can. where there is a Yosemite Val , by hard efforts succeeded in getting out on the opposite
side reaching the divide between the N Fork the Middle Fork. We then followed the top of the divide nearly to the confluence
of the N Fork with the trunk crossed the main river yesterday are now in the pines again over all the wildest most impractical
portions of our journey In descending the divide to the main K. River we made a descent of near 7000 ft, down illegible down
with avengeance, to the hot pineless foothills, we rose again it was a most grateful resurrection. Last night I watched the
writing of the sperey pines on the sky gray with stars if you 2 had been here I would have said, Look etc Last eve when
the Dr I were bed building discussing as usual the goodnesses badnesses of boaghy mtn beds we were astonished by the appearance
of two prospectors coming thro the mtn rye. By them I send this note Today we will reach some of the Sequoias near Thomas
Mill (side map of geological survey) in two or three days more will be in the Canon of the South Fork of Kings Riv If the
weather appears tranquil when we reach the Summit of the range I may set out among the glaciers for a few days but if otherwise
I shall push hastily for the Owens River plains, thence up to Tahoe etc,. I am working hard shall not feel easy untill I am
on the other side beyond the reach of early snowstorms. Not that I fear snowstorms for myself, but the poor animals would
die or suffer - - The Doctors duster flynet are safe therefore underlined: he , Bill is in good spirits apt to teach drawing
in out of season Remember me to the Dr the boys Moores Keith etc. Ever yrs truly John Muir