Speaker Series Explores Modern Connections to John Muir

Date: April 26, 2013
Contact: Jim MacDonald, 925-228-8860 ext. 6621

Join the National Park Service this spring and summer as we host a series of guest speakers who will explore John Muir's modern legacy. To kick off the series, special guests Peter and Donna Thomas will present "Muir Ramble Route: San Francisco to Yosemite," on Saturday, May 11, at 2 p.m. at the John Muir National Historic Site (NHS) Visitor Center.The series will continue with special programs on Sunday June 23 and Sunday July 14th (separate press releases will follow.)

In April 1868, only days after arriving in San Francisco by steamship, John Muir set out on a six-week-long walk to Yosemite, a place he later fought to protect as a national park. Inspired by Muir's 300-mile journey, book artistsPeter and Donna Thomaswalked his route as closely as possible –138 years later. Join Peter and Donna for a digital presentation of their 2006 ramble across California, which led to their creation of the Muir Ramble Route (MRR) from San Francisco to Yosemite over Pacheco Pass.

Peter and Donna will present landmarks of this cross-California route, designed for urban backpackers and cyclists to discover still-wild places in the greater Bay Area and beyond. As they share highlights from their new book, Muir Ramble Route: Walking from San Francisco to Yosemite in the Footsteps of John Muir, they will also tell the story of their reconstruction of Muir's first trip to Yosemite from his writings. The book will be available for purchase at the event.

Peter and Donna Thomas grew up next to open spaces and spent much of their early childhoods hiking, climbing trees and wading in creeks. Throughout their lives they have continued to backpack, camp and be in love with the outdoors. Since 1976 they have worked collaboratively and individually as book artists. Peter makes paper and has an old letterpress with metal type, while Donna uses pen and watercolors to paint words and images. Together, they create one-of-a-kind and limited edition books.

Created in 1964, John Muir NHS preserves the home, landscapes, and gravesite of conservationist and national park advocate John Muir. Mt. Wanda preserves 326 acres of grasslands and oak woods that Muir set aside more than a century ago., located at 4202 Alhambra Avenue, Martinez, CA 94553, or call [phone].