Last Sunday was one of those days that I needed to escape the steel boundaries of the city to the serenity provided by Mother Nature. Though driving in San Francisco is ill-advised, having a car does help when I want to explore the surrounding areas. With our bags packed with jerky and water, we set off for a day of adventure at Mt. Tam.
The drive to Mt. Tam is a relatively short trip, just a quick journey past the Golden Gate Bridge and through the hills of Marin County. This would be my first foray across the iconic behemoth, a sad admittance for a current San Francisco resident. It truly was a majestic structure rising from the dark waters of the bay. After we traversed the bridge, we encountered the bayside town of Sausalito. The scenic city was nestled quaintly between Muir Woods and the bay. Sausalito is known to be one of the more expensive towns in the area, and it was no secret that this was where money resided. It seemed as though every mansion was nested on a picturesque hill with a corresponding yacht or sailboat waiting to whisk the millionaires about the bay.
Soon enough, we were beyond the gorgeous suburbs and headed northwest towards our destination. The road consisted of hairpin turns, with the number of cyclists often outnumbering the vehicles. After a winding jaunt through wooded hills, we found ourselves at a parking lot at the base of the mountain. There, we were fortunate enough to encounter a ranger who just happened to be carrying around spare maps detailing the area’s trails. He highlighted preferable routes for us to make it to the peak, and with that, we set off for adventure. The hiking trails were quiet and serene, cloaked by large evergreens with flowing streams meandering their way down the hills. Every so often, they would open up to larger paths frequented by adventurous folks on mountain bikes, barreling down the hills at high speeds. The trail was also marked by numerous signs warning of mountain lions in the area, but the only wildlife we come across was a crow in search of scraps at the peak.
The view offered from the top was a breathtaking panoramic view of the bay, from small islands hiding in the vast Pacific to Mount Diablo in the East Bay. It was truly a moment to stop and bask in the beauty of nature.
There are not many better ways to spend a Sunday then hiking up Mt. Tam. While the hike was fairly steep at some parts, with jagged rocks for footholds, the reward for several hours of hard work was a view I will not soon forget. There is a road that will take you to the base of the peak as well, and only require a short 10-15 minute walk from the parking lot to the summit. Whether it be a hike from the bottom or a simple drive to the top, it is well worth your time to head north from San Francisco, out of the hustle and bustle of city life, to the pristine wilderness where majestic pines live. After reaching the peak, just let nature do the rest and enjoy a minute away from e-mails and texting to realize the beauty this world has to offer. It is not often simply sitting on a rock and gazing into the distance can be so fulfilling. This will be one journey into the wilderness you will not soon forget.
