26/12/2016
Mark Stephen and Euan McIlwraith present a special programme about the life of Scottish-born naturalist John Muir recorded in Yosemite National Park in California.
John Muir was born in Dunbar in 1838. He emigrated to America with his family as a boy. As a man he ended up living in California and campaigned vociferously to preserve the Yosemite Valley after witnessing the destruction of this vast wilderness by logging, sheep farming and tourism. In 1890 Yosemite became America's second national park and remained a place very close to John Muir's heart. In this special programme recorded in Yosemite National Park, Mark and Euan visit the places which inspired John Muir and shaped the National Parks movement in America, including his legendary camping trip with President Teddy Roosevelt. They are joined by John Muir himself in the form of the actor Lee Stetson. Plus they visit the place where Muir wrote most of his works. And finally they reach the top of Mount Hoffman at the geographical centre of Yosemite and one of Muir's favourite places.