Introduction: The naturalist's trance / Stephen Trimble -- Life on the rocks : the Galapagos / Annie Dillard -- Down the river with Henry Thoreau / Edward Abbey -- Cabeza Prieta / Ann Zwinger -- Basin and range / John McPhee -- Hailing the elusory mountain lion / Edward Hoagland -- Life on the back side of the moon / John Madson -- Chambers of memory ; Miracle of the geese / David Quammen -- Homing ; Living with trees / John Hay -- Into the maze ; Scratching / Robert Finch -- On water ; Smooth skull of winter / Gretel Ehrlich. Spring / Sue Hubbell -- Journey's end / Wendell Berry -- At Crystal Mountain / Peter Matthiesen -- Where has all the panic gone? ; Where the birds are our friends : the tale of two oases / Gary Nabhan -- Country of the mind / Barry Lopez.