“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.”
— JOHN MUIR (1901)
Hautes Fagnes – Belgium
This is an inspiring quote. What strikes me even more, is the time when it was written: no less than 120 years ago.
John Muir was one of the first advocates of protecting nature in the United States. His writing and activism ultimately led to the founding of national parks, like Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park.
He was an overlander as well, in a time where this word may not even have existed. The invention of the 4×4 took place two years after the above citation. Muir simply travelled on foot, deliberately picking out the most remote routes. Although moving forward slowly, he tackled enormous distances.
In a time when many people – out of necessity – leave their offroader in the garage, and (re)discover the pleasure of venturing out on foot, at least in their own neighbourhood, I wonder what I as an overlander should do. Not so much in order to be ahead of my time, but mainly in choosing the right direction.
John Muir was one of the first advocates of protecting nature in the United States. His writing and activism ultimately led to the founding of national parks, like Sequoia National Park and Yosemite National Park.
He was an overlander as well, in a time where this word may not even have existed. The invention of the 4×4 took place two years after the above citation. Muir simply travelled on foot, deliberately picking out the most remote routes. Although moving forward slowly, he tackled enormous distances.
In a time when many people – out of necessity – leave their offroader in the garage, and (re)discover the pleasure of venturing out on foot, at least in their own neighbourhood, I wonder what I as an overlander should do. Not so much in order to be ahead of my time, but mainly in choosing the right direction.
Inspiring truth!