John Muir and the Ice That Started a Fire: How a Visionary and the Glaciers of Alaska Changed America

We have American heroes strong in moral fiber, but one naturalist stands out among the many and that is the brilliant iconoclast John Muir. The author Kim Heacox captures the pantheistic spirit of Muir in this adventuresome tale that starts with his canoe explorations of the Alaskan glaciers. Muir had a passion for examining glaciers, and he made nine trips to Alaska studying their behavior and effect on the terrain. Fascinated by the ice rivers, Muir felt compelled to examine every aspect of these formations and the accounts of these risky exploits include the mishap with Reverend Young and the saga of his dog Stickeen. Skillfully weaving into the time frame of Muir’s wanderings, are luminaries of the period who shared his joy in the wonders of nature. He appreciated the poetry of Wordsworth, rabidly read Thoreau, was a friend of Emerson, and agreed with the critical views of Mark Twain. John Muir is described as a glacial geologist who read the handwriting of these moving ice masses on the landscape in Alaska and of course in the formation of Yosemite valley. As a rabid conservationist, he fought for land and forest preservation and the establishment of national parks. We need to be reminded of the real stars that should guide us, and the genius of John Muir is well revealed in this enthralling narrative.