THE CHARM OF TAMALPAIS 



clarbnce: e. edwords 



RISING directly from the level of the Pacific, so high that it stands 

 as a landmark for the traveler coming from the interior as well as 

 for the mariner after his long voyage across the trackless ocean, 

 Tamalpais is the beloved mountain of all California, even though 

 it lacks in height the necessary number of feet to rank with mountains 

 proper. For scenic beauty, for grandeur, and for wildness, it is unsurpassed 

 by any mountain on the Coast. 



Where else is there mountain that has such wonderful vista as that 

 which unfolds before and beneath it from the edge of the cliff overtopping 

 the entrance to San Francisco Bay? Where is there such other wonderful 

 panorama as that which spreads out from north to south along Califor- 

 nia's coast? 



From far south, where the softened colors of the mountains of the 

 Sacred Cross form marvelous background for millions of blossoming trees 

 of Santa Clara Valley, to far north, where the glittering crown of Mount 

 Shasta pierces the sky at the upper end of Sacramento Valley, marking 

 the connecting link between the Sierra and Coast ranges, the eye ranges 

 over the most wonderful land in all the world. Far across to the east the 

 sharply outlined saw-edge of the tremendous mountain chain which rims 

 the State for eight hundred miles, stands a fitting frame for the gorgeous 

 picture. 



And what a picture it is. Frowning Diablo, shadowing Eden, tries in 

 vain to shut out the view. Sonoma's hills sink away into slight undula- 

 tions. All inequalities of the land are softened. Before one's eyes lies 

 unrolled a topographical map of all that part of California lying between 

 the Sierra and the sea, from where Shasta keeps back the cold of the 

 north to where Tehachapi shuts off the southland. The great interior valley, 

 once the basin of a vast inland sea, lies level as a floor for its entire five 

 hundred miles of length and fifty of breadth, and the two mighty rivers, 

 now seeming but threads of silver as they sullenly roll to the ocean, give 

 added charm to the limning of the Master's hand. 



Leading away to the north stretches the low-lying range of mountains 

 forming the coast barrier against inclement storm from the sea, dividing 

 and sub-dividing to form hundreds of beautiful valleys between, from the 

 vine-clad hills of Sonoma to where Napa gently slopes down from Mount 

 St. Helena, standing at the entrance of the country that is walled in. 



All this is but the minor part of the picture, for this is but the outline — 

 the drawing — on which there is such massing of color, at once the delight 

 and despair of painters who have seen the glories of the world. At one's 

 feet lie the homes of busy thousands. City after city, town after town, 

 and farm after farm dot the landscape, and within view the location of one 

 half the population of the State of California is revealed. 



To the south and right at the base of the mountain, stands one of the 

 magnificent redwood forests of California, within a stone's throw of the 

 great metropolis whose lights glitter across the bay as night falls. It is 

 the epitome of California, and from this mountain top may be seen every 

 industry that has m.ade the State famous. The eye ranges from snow-clad 

 peaks to orange groves with trees laden with living gold; mine and forest, 

 field and orchard and vineyard lie before you, and from hundreds of tall 

 chimneys rise the smoke from factory fires. 



The tourist who has visited California without the trip to the top of 

 Mount Tamalpais has missed California's most wonderful view, and his 

 own greatest enjoyment. 



