Ranger Adrian Boone brings a relaxed California spirit to the ancient redwood forest of Muir Woods National Monument. Uniform on, shaka ready.
Deep in the cool, green shade of Muir Woods National Monument, I met ranger Adrian Boone—a man who seemed to carry California’s relaxed spirit as naturally as his uniform.
Surrounded by an ancient forest of towering coast redwoods, he raised both hands in the unmistakable shaka gesture. It was a small, spontaneous moment that immediately replaced the formality of an official portrait with something much more personal.
Muir Woods protects one of the San Francisco Bay Area’s last remaining old-growth coast redwood forests. Some of these extraordinary trees have been standing for hundreds of years, creating a place that feels peaceful, timeless and almost removed from the outside world.
Adrian’s smile and easygoing gesture brought a human element to that monumental landscape. Rangers protect the forest, help visitors understand its importance and ensure that future generations will still be able to walk beneath the redwoods.
Ranger by duty, California by spirit—and clearly fluent in the universal language of “hang loose.”- Date
- 2026-01-01