John Muir first published My First Summer in the Sierra in 1911. It is the journal he kept while in a shepherd crew traveling through the hills near Yosemite in 1869. In the midst of supervising the sheep, Muir kept detailed notes of the natural surroundings, flora, and fauna. It contains many of his natural philosophy; the text is replete with his lush, nigh lyrical descriptions of creation’s grandeur. In addition to its beautiful descriptions, and observations of the many features found around Yosemite, the text provided and continues to provide a draw for people to visit Yosemite and give an awareness of the importance of preserving the transcendent qualities of nature.