The Unsettling Silence on Outdoor Community Losses The recent passing of Cassandra Wilson has brought to mind her remarkable contributions to jazz, as well as the eerie silence that often greets us when a beloved figure from our outdoor community departs.
While the music world mourned Wilson's loss with tributes and reflections, I couldn't help but wonder why similar outpourings are often absent or muted when someone like her leaves behind a legacy in the great outdoors.
The passing of John Muir in 1914 is a notable exception to this silence. As a pioneer conservationist and naturalist, Muir's impact on the national parks system and environmental movement cannot be overstated.