The San Francisco call., 1910-01-01
ny HAROLD FRENCH

Il kNON no more unique Now ear
iaunt than the tramp along the sky
line of Mount Tamalpais, past the
western peak. through the cypress belt
and down to the Potrero meadows.
Hidden in the hollow Of the north
westerly shoulder Of the mountain lies
this little known nook perching on a
picturesque plateau, 2,20O feet above
the far distant fjord of Tomales bay.
IT may be reached most directly from
Mill Valley, six miles distant by track
and trail. after climb Of over $500
feet. while the return trip around the
western ri lge of Tamalpais is nearly
two miles longer, although it's grade is
nearly all down hill. Juniors of IA.
who are game for as many miles will
easily cover this distance, If they travel
on the following time table planned for
their guidance. An average walker will
require three hours to tramp over the
MAIN crest to the meadows. while four
more should be allowed on the return
route, for the young explorer is sure to
be held by the heteromeles arbutifolia
that lurk by his path, concerning which
more anon:
Leave the city on either the 7:40
or SEQ a. m. boat for Sausalito, and
strike straight up the Mill valley trail,
as described In the Junior Call of De-
cember 4th. When you reach the track
of the Tamalpais RAJ lway turn to the
west and follow it upward to that won
derful feat OF engineering known as
the adouble bow knot" foot trail
quarters the distance to the upper loop,
along which you may continue for a
mile and half to the water tank be-
tween the heavily timbered canyons
that fall away steeply into the far be-
low woods of John Muir. If you found
the first mile and quarter OF the
Mill valley trail some nat breath TAX
ing, the more gradual ascent of the
next half hour will have rested you and
given you your second wind" You
Will need all your lung and limb power.
now, for at an elevation of 1,400 feet,
near this water tank, trail zig-zags
steeply up the mountain SIDE crossing
the railway track 200 feet above, and
continuing up rocky gulch to the old
Eldridge grade. You win welcome this
winding wagon road as a refreshing
change as you curve around an almost
level saddle from which you may look
either down upon the emerald surface
OF Lake Lagunitas or out upon the
Pacific half a mile below. A mile more
will bring you to the crest of the
western peak, where the geodetic mon
uments mark the highest point, 2 ,eO4
feet above sea level.
EXPRESSES AND sERPENTINE
AT the western bend of the road a
clearly defined trail dips down into the
trough OF a mountain wave. then up
for third of mile to a fiat ridge
covered with small cypress trees These
are closely related to the jumpers. or
red cedars. which are found on the bald
domes of Sierran ridges from 900 to
10000 feet in elevation. You will no.
tice that these Expresses have the
round, knobby little cones characteris-
tic of their tame cousins down in the
city gardens. Down in the little hol-
low the outcropping boulders of SER
pentine have a weird look, as their
CLASSY surfaces show the shining work
of the weather. This is the same belt
of magnetism rocks that cuts across the
Bolinas road near Liberty's and which
appears in great masses near Fort
Point. Originally the serpentine was
deposited in layers from muddy water
like slate. Later. when great earth
movements nodded the Coast range into
it's present outline, this original belt of
slate was crumpled and folded into the
shape you now see IL. 1t is now classed
by geologists as metamorphic rock,