A Year in Paradise

by Floyd Wilfred Schmoe

Overview

 Floyd Wilfred Schmoe's A Year in Paradise is a lyrical and quietly profound chronicle of twelve months spent living in Mount Rainier National Park, where Schmoe worked as a naturalist and ranger. Blending memoir, natural history, and environmental reflection, the book captures the unfolding of seasons in one of America's most majestic landscapes. From snowbound forests and awakening alpine meadows to roaring waterfalls and firelit evenings in log cabins, Schmoe documents the rhythms of mountain life with a deep reverence for the natural world. His observations of flora, fauna, weather, and geology are enriched by philosophical insights and spiritual humility, echoing the transcendental tradition of Thoreau and Muir. He writes not just as a scientist, but as a contemplative—marveling at the intelligence of animals, the silence of snow, and the small miracles of survival and renewal. Through encounters with hikers, rangers, and occasional solitude, Schmoe paints a portrait of nature as teacher, healer, and companion. A Year in Paradise is more than a nature book—it is a testament to finding peace and meaning through stillness, stewardship, and attentive presence. For lovers of nature writing, ecological thought, or national park history, Schmoe's work remains an enduring classic. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781779791931
Publisher:	Bonhopai Books
Publication date:	06/24/2025
Sold by:	Bookwire
Format:	eBook
Pages:	243
File size:	14 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

 Floyd Wilfred Schmoe (1895–2001) was an American Quaker, naturalist, pacifist, and humanitarian whose long life was devoted to peace, ecology, and cross-cultural understanding. Trained as a marine biologist, Schmoe taught at the University of Washington and served as a forest ranger and park naturalist, but he is best remembered for his activism. During World War II, he publicly opposed the internment of Japanese Americans and later organized relief efforts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to rebuild homes after the atomic bombings. His book A Year in Paradise is a meditative account of his time as a park ranger in Mount Rainier National Park, celebrating the spiritual and ecological beauty of the wilderness. Schmoe's life embodied a synthesis of environmentalism and nonviolence, grounded in Quaker principles of simplicity and service. He received numerous honors in the U.S. and Japan, where he is remembered as a symbol of reconciliation and compassion. 

Floyd Wilfred Schmoe (1895–2001) was an American Quaker, naturalist, pacifist, and humanitarian whose long life was devoted to peace, ecology, and cross-cultural understanding. Trained as a marine biologist, Schmoe taught at the University of Washington and served as a forest ranger and park naturalist, but he is best remembered for his activism. During World War II, he publicly opposed the internment of Japanese Americans and later organized relief efforts in Hiroshima and Nagasaki to rebuild homes after the atomic bombings. His book A Year in Paradise is a meditative account of his time as a park ranger in Mount Rainier National Park, celebrating the spiritual and ecological beauty of the wilderness. Schmoe’s life embodied a synthesis of environmentalism and nonviolence, grounded in Quaker principles of simplicity and service. He received numerous honors in the U.S. and Japan, where he is remembered as a symbol of reconciliation and compassion.