The San Francisco call., 1895-07-19
Two Days Profitably Spent
Camping in Mountain
and Forest.
AN OLD LUMBER TOWN.
Proposed Railroad to Be Con-
structed From Richardson Bay
to BolinaS.

City, far from the clang OF streetcar gongs
and the rumble of teams, and to evade the
dust and smoke of railroad travel, our
party of four started one morning in May
for an outing in the country, We wanted
to keep from the ordinary routes of travel
of country seekers and TO enjoy as much
as possible the wildness of fmountain travel,
where we could expend our energies IN
climbing up and climbing down in vari-
ance of our usual monotonous walks OF
life. With but two days at our disposal
we were forced to select a route not far
distant from the City. The strangely pic
turesque mountains of Marin County made
the first suggestion as fulfilling our ex-
pectations and desires, and we decided to
go and investigate for ourselves the sus-
pected beauty and Wildness of this almost
unknown territory, The general impres-
sion of Marin County has been that OF
mass of panoramic hills thrown in on 3
sort Of golden gate post on which might
hinge many possibilities, but who will
trouble to look at aught else than the con-
spicuous? and the bay and its immediate
coast line is known to the world as great
and grand and is correspondingly admired; ;
while the substantial grandeur of the
Marin County mountains passes unnoticed
save IN the general acceptance as lot of
useless hills piled up by the Creator as
surplus material after carving out the
beautifully designed shores of the bay.
Our plans were hurriedly and simply
formed. We burdened ourselves with
nothing of weight greater than our pur-
pose and the ordinary means for secur-
ing to our appetites any chance flesh, fish
or fowl. When our preparations were
made we each packed our own in small
bag slung over a shoulder, and together
they weighed little more than our light
spirits. With these and the price of a
ticket to Mill Valley we commenced our
wandering, without otner intentions than
eventually reaching the ocean, and to that
end struck out over the hills from Mill
Valley, headed for the coast at or some
where near Bolinas Bay A rapid ascent
of steep hill divulged to our party that
the same elevation might have been gained
by an easy grade up long and beautiful
canyon, through which picturesquely
winds good wagon road. We had not
lost any roads, but were looking for noun
tains, and we found them - mountains
large and small, beautiful, symmetrical,
grand and rugged-all kinds to please the
fancy or taste of the most enthusiastic
mountaineer.
Our chance route led US on through the
well-known Throckmorton ranch and on
through the wonderful Sequoia Grove, the
only remaining virgin redwood forest to
be found near San Francisco. This forest
is primeval in its beauty and grandeur, is
untouched by the ruthless hand of the
lumberman, and stands as the only sur
viVor of noble race that has fallen before
the ak of civilization. This majestic forest
enjoys its present existence simply be-
cause 1t has found shelter and safety in its
isolation, growing as it does in beautiful
valley of enormous extent of rich, deep
soil, which valley is surrounded by noun
tain ranges, which have been a barrier to
the avarice of the lumberman, and but for
which this noble lot of sequoias would
have long ago been feIled and marketed, as
has all the available timber of the coast
forests.
1t is said that railroad is contemplated
to traverse this valley, gaining entrance
through the only possible route-Home-
stead Valley-which winds by easy grade
from Richardson's Bay, and on through
Sequoia Grove, and by short tunnel through
to the coast of Bolinas and to that fertile
dairy country of Point Reyes. Should the
railroad be constructed 1t will open to set
tlement and to pleasure-seekers one of the
most beautiful valleys of California, which
undoubtedly will some day become a
favored spot for suburban homes and
small farms. Before, however, such a
railroad is permitted to secure right of
way, an effort of all lovers of nature and
of the beautiful should be made to secure
to the people of the State reservation of
this Sequoia Grove as public park to be
maintained inviolate and forever as it is, a
primeval forest of California redwoods.
With this grove as temple of holy public
dedication, and accessible by railroad and
ferry IN a few minutes, it will make an
attraction to San Francisco that will be
unsurpassed and unequaled by any CITY
in the world, and where thousands will
avail themselves of the opportunity to
worship nature as blessing at cost of a
pittance and forty minutes for the pill
grimage. Leaving Sequoia Grove in its
grandeur and solitude, the wanderers
travel up the mountain range through a
winding canyon of easy grade to its head
where it is contemplated to run a tunnel
through the crest of the mountain, and
out to an opposite canyon on the coast
side of the range.
Crossing over the divide most beauti-
full sight breaks on the behoIder as if a
magnificent picture was instantly exhbl-
tied with all the illumination possible
with accessory light and surroundings
picture of descending mountains, of bril-
liant colors shaded with natures harmoni-
Gus greens, all framing a grand view OF
broad ocean, sparkling in the sunlight and
fringed with border of snow-White surf
breaking on the miles of shore.
Descending the mountain we are soon on
the stage road that leads from Sausalito
to Bolinas, and travelling this almost Level
and excellent road on the very edge of the
coast line is presented a panorama oi
mountain and ocean scenery seemingly
blended into the smallest or closest com
pass possible. On the one hand and over
head are frowning mountains, and on the
other, at your feet, is the roaring ocean
dashing waves up every cliff, the spray oi
which is carried on the ocean breezes tc
refresh the canyon foliage and the dusty
wanderer. A breath of this moisture
laden air, fresh from old ocean, is SO in
vigorating that all fatigue of mountain
travel is dispelled at once and new life is
impaired to every tired muscle.
Continuing on along the coast the road
winds in the picturesque canyon and then
out on bold headlands and cliffs, where
is afforded the traveller grand and unin-
terrupted view of the broad ocean, as well
as the coast line extending from the bay
of San Francisco to Point Reyes.
-Four miles further on we arrived at Will
low Camp, where has been established for
years camping ground on the very verge
OF the ocean. Willow Camp is beautifully
situated at the foot of the Coast Range and
Just off the sandy beach on level tract
which is covered with a dense growth OF
willow trees, forming shade and shelter