Walk the Sky: Following the John Muir Trail

Walk the Sky is the most comprehensive published photographic essay of  the John Muir Trail since Ansel Adams’ treatment of the subject in 1938.  Over the course of three decades photographer John Dittli has captured the many moods along the “summit” of the Pacific Crest.  Through the large format color plates with essays by Mark Schlenz, the reader wanders from north to south along 200 miles of the Sierra Nevada.  Three hundred of these fine art books, in a signed, slip cased, limited, numbered  collectors edition, are now available for pre-publication sales only through the photographer.  To order your copy please click here.

View John Muir Trail slideshow

Walk the Sky: Following the John Muir Trail, Companion Press, 10 x 11 inch, 136 pages 85 color plates including 18 full bleed panoramas, 20 b&w illustrations. Collectors Edition available only through the artist: $85.

“I just received my autographed book today (I was told I got the first shipped signed edition), it is unbelievably most beautiful and most fantastic. An absolute valued and most treasured book. For all who have hiked the JMT, I highly, most highly recommend this book.”

-Roleigh Martin, John Muir Trail@yahoogroups

“Awesome … no other publication I have read does a finer job of getting at the physical and emotional transcendence that occurs from spending large uninterrupted periods of time in Wilderness.”

–Eric Gabriel, Valley District Ranger, Yosemite National Park

“The  essays do a lovely job of conveying things that feel so familiar to the life and work that we experience working in the high sierra (the physical attunement of one’s body after weeks and months on the trail).  I found myself wanting to see many more of John’s gorgeous images … he has captured beautiful images with the eye of someone who is intimate with the land he is photographing.”

–Erika Jostad, Backcountry Ranger, Sequoia National Park

North End Abort

We had a very good walk from Mammoth Pass north, but ended up exiting at Tuolumne Meadows because of large Yosemite fire.  Saw local ultra runner Jeff Kozak in the upper Lyell Fork on a run of the entire JMT.

We hope to get back in for the last 22 miles as soon as the smoke clears and the roads open.

Evening, Gladys Lake, Ansel Adams Wilderness

Low res slideshow of selected Walk the Sky images at Youtube.

John Muir Trail Part 2

Out of the backcountry for another resupply, this time via Mammoth Pass.  Met a thru hiker up near Mammoth Pass, map out, scratching his head; southbound he took a left at Upper Crater Meadow… oops! Wonderful weather for hiking, not so good for shooting.  Going against the grain south to north this year, meeting many friendly people along the way.  The wildflowers are beginning to wane, but the backcountry is still surprisingly green.  We missed a big party at VVR the other night, lots of slow movers up Bear Ridge switchbacks the next day.

Mt Clarence King, upper Woods Creek

Muir Trail ’09

Walk the Sky is at the printer and due for release in late September. With the book wrapped up, Leslie and I are on a 25 day JMT trip this summer, south to north.  We came out Kearsarge for re-supply, back in tomorrow.  Cold weather with a morning low of 20f the day we went over Forester Pass.  A forecast for snow sent people streaming out of the mountains, never materialized.  The high country is still green with great flowers!  To see a first attempt at filming with my 5d mark II; unedited home movie from Forester Pass…. here.

South from Forester Pass

Walk the Sky: Following the John Muir Trail

Walk the Sky: Following the John Muir Trail, Companion Press, 10 x 11 inch, 136 pages 85 color plates including 18 full bleed panoramas, 20 b&w illustrations .

Hardcover trade edition available through fine book stores or order direct.

Limited slipcased  Collectors Edition available only through the artist: $85.    here.

Walk the Sky: Following the John Muir Trail

Trade Edition  $50.00 us

“Awesome … no other publication I have read does a finer job of getting at the physical and emotional transcendence that occurs from spending large uninterrupted periods of time in Wilderness.” –Eric Gabriel, Valley District Ranger, Yosemite National Park “The  essays do a lovely job of conveying things that feel so familiar to the life and work that we experience working in the high sierra (the physical attunement of one’s body after weeks and months on the trail).  I found myself wanting to see many more of John’s gorgeous images … he has captured beautiful images with the eye of someone who is intimate with the land he is photographing.” –Erika Jostad, Backcountry Ranger, Sequoia National Park