Well NOT THE John Muir, but Jack Laws aka John Muir Laws author of the The Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada. I received an email at 5:45 PM that Jack Laws would be giving a talk tonight at the local Berkeley REI at 7PM on”Finding Connection in Nature: Exploring the Sierra with Naturalist John Muir Laws”. I have to admit I was ambivalent about someone calling themselves John Muir. This was quickly dispelled by his engaging and informative talk. He was quite knowledgeable, animated and humorous in giving the best presentation I have seen and heard at REI.
He spoke about writing and drawing a mostly visual, user-friendly field guide of the Sierra Nevada for the non-expert. There was a slide presentation and talk about the relationships between insects, flora, birds and animals and their interdependence. He also spoke about California’s lone wolverine. For more on the wolverine check my post from March 17 The Last Wolverines. Finally, he covered the alarming effects of climate change (For instance by 2100 almost all pika habitat in California will be gone) and how we might respond. If you are interested in hearing his excellent presentation, he is speaking tomorrow, Wednesday, June 30 at 7PM at the REI in Corte Madera in Marin County.
Natural History Wanderings 
No, he doesn’t “call himself” John Muir Laws. His mother and I did that on his birth certificate. The Muir is his great grandmother and John, his maternal grandfather. My wife and I are long-time Sierra lovers and admirers of JM so the coincidence was a happy one. When asked or volunteering the information Jack, as we call him, is always very clear about where the name came from. I’m glad you enjoy his presentations and glad to clear up any potential embarrassment that might arise from the thought that he hijacked his given name.
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By: Robert Laws on July 5, 2010
at 12:15 PM