John Muir: Family and Friends
is the fifth conference on John Muir sponsored by the University of the Pacific. It will be held May 4-6, 2001, at the Feather River Inn in the Sierra Nevada mountains. For registration information, contact: Bonnie Gisel, John Muir Center for Regional Studies, 3601 Pacific Ave., Stockton, CA 95211, (209) 946-2527, johnmuir@uop.edu

I once wrote:

"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. "

I've been asked, "What is a logcock and would I really want one to wake me up in the morning?"

I'm glad to let you know that a logcock is simply nothing other than one of Nature's most wonderful creatures, the Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus. It is one of our most wonderful forest denizens. Thank goodness this species is no longer on the endangered species list, largely due to increased use of prescribed burning which helps to clear the forest of brush. These woodpeckers need big old trees, usually pines, to nest. You can see a photograph and read more about this wonderful bird at the "Bird's of Florida" Pileated Woodpecker Page

So, waking up to a logcock in the morning is a divine pleasure indeed!

I hope the conference will discuss some more of my forest friends like the Pileated Woodpecker!
posted by John Muir at 12:46 PM

John Muir: Family and Friends

On May 4-6, 2001 University of the Pacific will sponsor its fifth conference on John Muir, held at UOP's Feather River Inn located near Quincy, California in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The theme of the conference, the 53rd California History Institute, is John Muir: Family and Friends. Topics will include:

* Muir and family in Martinez and Southern California;
* Muir's wilderness family and friends;
* Muir and the fellowship of all believers;
* Muir and Women;
* Muir and the community of nature and science; and
*Muir's friends and acquaintances.

This Web Log will provide previews and a live archive of the conference!
Send your comments to webmastertwo@johnmuir.org(substitute the number for the word to address e-mail)
posted by Harold Wood at 1:05 PM