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| Golden Gate Bridge (from Mt Tamalpais) - Marin County 2026 |
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| View South (from Mt. Tamalpais) - Marin County 2026 |
Photos taken with a Nikon Z7II / 24-200mm lens combo.
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| Heron - Lake Lagunitas 2026 |
Bird is often to be found in the same spot. We spend some time eyeing one another.
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| Skyline (from Mt. Tamalpais) - Marin County 2026 |
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| Viewpoint (from Mt. Tamalpais) - Marin County 2026 |
My first two earlier trips to the top of Mt. Tamalpais featured zero views, so we waited until the weather was relatively clear to venture up there once more, this time in October.
Lots of haze, but you could see for quite a distance! And the viewpoint actually had a view this time.
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| Hanna, Hali - Marin County 2026 |
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| Hanna, Hali - Marin County 2026 |
So my first Mt. Tamalpais hike hadn't worked out since the trail up to the lookout structure was way rockier than I had expected. But it turns out that there's a second trail, an accessible one that loops around the mountain just below the summit.
Hanna was coming over for a visit in August . . . Hali and I decided to take her up to the top of Mt. Tamalpais so she could enjoy the view.
Yikes . . . not only was there no view, but the weather at the trailhead was quite intense, very wet and foggy with strong winds!
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| Trail - Marin County 2026 |
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| Hikers - Marin County 2026 |
"The connecting Plank Trail is a short but very steep climb up an uneven, rocky path to the historic fire lookout. The ascent requires minor scrambling over boulders to reach the summit plaque."
(The trail description from AllTrails.)
The trail, broad enough at the start, quickly became increasingly rocky. When I started up I hadn't known that there would be any boulder scrambling, minor or not. Plus, it was hot! So I only went part of the way before turning back.