Alaska.

• Main Author: Muir, John
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Scholarly Commons 1891
• Subjects: Environmentalist; naturalist; travel; conservation; national parks; John Muir; history; pamphlets; journal articles; speeches; writing; annotation; Pacific; The Gate; Archipelago; glaciers; Alaska; Thousand Islands
• Online Access: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/jmb/207; https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/context/jmb/article/1206/viewcontent/184.pdf

ALASKA VIA NORTHERN PACIFIC RR going OING to the mount- to . God's clean, healthy wilds, near or far, is going home, ;:jj and therefore it seems to m me that the annual outing J-' wise people take now-a- / _ days from dust and care ,'* and early death, is one of the most hopeful and significant signs of the times. j0v A few years ago even the White k *•" Hills of New England seemed far from civilization, and only the exceptionally hold and adventurous could ever hope to see such mysterious regions as the Rocky Mountains or the dark woods "where rolls the Oregon." Now they are near to all who can command a little money and time; and, so free from danger is the journey, less courage is required to go than to stay at home. The sick and well and also little children may now travel in comfort even as far as icy Alaska, and enjoy the nightless days of that beautiful Northland, the bright waters and islands, the blooming gardens on the mountains, the majestic forests and waterfalls, and walk with keen reviving health the crystal fields of the glaciers whore all the world seems ice. Without caring for or noting your bodily condition you will sain in health as you go, set rid of doleful apathy, wasting care "ill be swept away, and you will awake to new life, liven the blind should go to Alaska, and the deaf and dumb—everybody able to breathe- for the sake of the life-giving air, When the first railroad was built across the continent an interesting branch of the stream of tourist travel began to set westward, to sec golden California and its glorious Sierra and Yosemite. Then on the completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad over the Cascade Mountains in the summer of 1887 the gate was opened wide to the icy northern wilderness. The trip to Alaska from Tacoinn through I'ugct Sound and the thousand islands of the Alexander Archipelago is perfectly enchanting. Apart from scientific interests, no other excursion that I know of may be made into the wilds of America in which so much line and grand and novel scenery is ...