John Muir and the Extravagant Picturesqueness Atop Nevada.

The article explores the history of land surveying in the U.S. West. The author reflects on the use of triangulation to locate high points and measure ground distances. Emphasis is given to the employment of environmentalist John Muir as a scout for the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey of 1878 in Nevada. Other topics include Muir's descriptions of bristlecone pine trees.