Muir Monday: Come to the Woods

Come to the woods, for here is rest. There is no repose like that of the green deep woods. Here grow the wallflower and the violet. The squirrel will come and sit upon your knee, the logcock will wake you in the morning. Sleep in forgetfulness of all ill. Of all the upness accessible to mortals, there is no upness comparable to the mountains.” – John of the Mountains: The Unpublished Journals of John Muir, (1938), page 235.

About the Photo

Two years ago I spent three weeks in Paris. It’s a beautiful city, and the trip was made even more beautiful when my girlfriend said “yes” and we were engaged on the Seine River. One of the many sites we visited in the area was the palace at Versailles. It’s a sprawling, opulent palace on huge grounds. It’s also incredibly crowded. We walked through the palace, often shoulder-to-shoulder with tourists from every corner of the world. While it was interesting from a historical perspective, we breathed a sigh of relief to get outside and on the grounds.

Many of the gardens at Versailles are manicured and formal. There are fountains, a maze of paths and surprise sculptures. But our favorite spot was this green “cathedral” of trees. We had the entire forest to ourselves. It was quiet and serene. As Muir said, “there is no repose like that of the green deep woods.”

While we weren’t deep into the wilderness, the cool shade and the serenity of these tall, green trees gave us peace from the crowds.

Leave a comment and share your  story of green serenity in the woods.

A Note About Muir Monday

I started sharing the wisdom of John Muir on back in June, posting new quotes on Instagram and Facebook with a photo I’ve taken that supports the message. Muir had a way with words, and the Muir Monday meme has proven popular. Beginning today, I’m trying out a new approach, sharing these inspirational words here on SoCal Hiker. Each Monday you’ll find a new quote to inspire you. Please spread the word, and share with your friends on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, Google+ or whatever networks you prefer.