The Mountain in the Middle

59 Officially, the 2,574-foot rise of the North American Plate that towers over Marin County is named Mount Tamalpais, but we more familiarly call it “Mount Tam,” “Tam” or, simply, “the mountain” (as in, “I live on the mountain”).

Tam and Marin are as synonymous as San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge, inseparable symbols of place, identity and culture. Tam is natural, Tam is recreational, Tam is inspirational — all very Marin. A view of Tam raises the price of a house — also very Marin.

Tam unites us, providing a silent beacon of home visible from all around the bay. Tam also divides us — rural to the west, more populated to the east; hikers and runners here, bikers and equestrians there. Tam entertains us with its trails, its pancake breakfasts and its Mountain Play. Tam enthralls us with views of sea, city and sky and soothes our civilized hearts with the scents of coastal redwood, Douglas fir and California Bay.

Tam is the people’s mountain, not remote and inaccessible, but right here among us, literally just outside our doors. We live in the long shadow of Tam’s ancient graces — and for that we are grateful.

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