This post was written by Barbara Ball, 2014 Information Center & Bookstore Manager.
For those times when I’m exploring the Sierra Nevada without my favorite Yosemite park ranger (or, come to think of it, even when I’m with her since she swears by this book), a necessity almost as crucial as sunblock is John Muir Laws’ The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada.
A modest-sized paperback, small enough to fit in your backpack on top of rain gear or snacks, this is the source to answer all of your “what is this?!?” quandaries. And since I recently moved here from the East Coast, I have a lot of those quandaries. For example, on some recent hikes, I encountered the following:
From The Laws Field Guide, I find that this is pussypaws—very common—a cushion plant: Calyptridium monospermum if you enjoy learning the scientific names.
Or:
I check the index, go to page 94: red/pink flowers, and look for those with 5 petals. Sierra primrose! (Primula suffrutescens)
However, this book is about much more than flowers, for instance:
The “Hooved Mammals” section on page 305 shows me that these are female bighorn sheep and
page 312, the “Large Rodent” section shows me that this is (of course!) a marmot.
When a visitor came into our bookstore with the question, “If I could only read one book for the rest of my (Sierra Nevada) life, what would it be?” This book is the answer. It can be used and enjoyed for years.
Interested in purchasing your own? We stock it both in our bookstore in Lee Vining as well as in our online bookstore. Check it out!
Great article about a great book! It’s a staple in all interpretive ranger packs!