Letters to a Friend 



I got back from Whitney this P.M. How 

 I shall sleep! My life rose wavelike with 

 those lofty granite waves ; now it may wearily 

 float for a time along the smooth, flowery 

 plain. 



It seems that this new Fisherman's Peak is 

 causing some stir in the newspapers. If I feel 

 writeful, I will send you a sketch of the region 

 for the "Overland/' 



Love to all my friends. 



Ever cordially yours, 



JOHN MUIR. 



[1873.] 



After Clark's departure a week ago we climbed 

 the divide between the south fork of the San 

 Joaquin and Kings River. I scanned the vast 

 landscape on which the ice had written won 

 drous things. After a short scientific feast I 

 decided to attempt entering the valley of the 

 west branch of the north fork, which we did, 

 following the bottom of the valley for about 

 10 miles. Then we were compelled to ascend 

 [ 164] 



