Mt. Tamalpais Memories

by Janet Klein

At our recent community workshop on the future of the Mt. Tamalpais Watershed, we asked those in attendance to share their favorite Mt. Tamalpais memories. Here is what just a few of them wrote.

Do you have your own favorite Mt. Tam memories? Share them in the comments section below.

Running on the Taylor Trail in a rainstorm between the redwoods and madrones.

Watching a pileated woodpecker teach its offspring to peck bark and extract insects.

Riding my horse up from $2 hill (Horse Hill) and as night fell, watching the moon rise over Richmond. It was summer 1966, in cut-offs, bareback with no helmet, my friends and I singing at the top of our lungs.

Bringing my daughters to the giant madrone (now fallen) behind Pilot Knob and watching them climb the lower limbs.

Seeing the sun rise through the dark trees on the lake.

The day I rode my mountain bike all the way from Fairfax to Muir Beach. Along the way, I saw a river otter in Lake Lagunitas—the first river otter I’d ever seen! That night I slept at West Point Inn. It was a great weekend on Mt. Tam!

Counting newts with my stepson and his dad hiking up Collier (we counted 38!).

A glimpse of a mountain lion on upper Rocky Ridge Fire Road.

The calypso orchids at Rifle Camp.

Taking my gentleman-friend from L.A. on a hike up to Pilot Knob. When we got to the top, huffing and puffing, he asked, “Is this a test?” Well, yes. He won my heart.