Took the Kids to the Snow...on Mt. Tam

It doesn’t happen here in Marin too often, but Saturday morning we woke to snow dusting the highest hills above Lucas Valley.  It didn’t take long for that thin layer to start melting, but on the top of Mount Tamalpais it was a different story.

Seizing the moment, my two daughters and I bundled up and rushed up the mountain, driving through a steady morning rain in 42 degree temperatures.  As our car climbed the windy mountain road -- pity my small children in the back seats with their weak stomachs -- we watched the thermometer dip into the high 30’s. 

By the time we hit the Mountain Home Inn the rain was thickening up, and even turning to hail.  At Boot Jack Camp, where we parked and began a little snow hike, honest-to-goodness snow was falling!  It was all over the grassy meadows too, in some spots a several inches thick!  Tree branches were even weighted down by the thick clumps of white stuff, as Mount Tam had magically transformed herself into snow country for the morning.

Kids were playing in the snow.  People were making snowmen -- or women -- one can’t really be sure -- or at least one shouldn’t be able to be sure in a kid-friendly atmosphere.  Actually they were really little snow people, because there wasn’t THAT much snow. 

Snow balls were being chucked, several between me and my daughters.  There were a few families who broke out sleds, which seemed like a stretch at that elevation.  One man was even hiking up from Boot Jack with skis on his shoulder, and we thought him more than a little delusional.  There wasn’t that much snow, but all in all it was a great and unique day to be on the slightly snowy slopes of Mount Tam! 

Coincidentally enough my brother Fred was riding bikes on the mountain trails Saturday morning and when I saw him Saturday night he mentioned seeing the tracks of a lone skier on the mountain.  I couldn’t believe the skier actually strapped them on, but by the end of the day news reporters were saying Mount Tam received between 4-7 inches up top.  I’m guessing it was just enough to cover the rocks his skis scraped as he slid by.  Regardless, I wouldn’t have minded being able to say I skied Tam that morning.  Is there a Marin native who wouldn’t?

Snow revelers were literally flocking to the mountain.  The parking lot at the Mountain Home Inn was full.  By the time we left, the parking lot at Boot Jack was full too and people were waiting for parking spots to open up.  There was no place to park on the side of the road either.  Due to budget cuts the top of the mountain is still inaccessible to cars, but plenty of people were making the hike up -- not to mention those cyclists like my brother who enjoyed riding through mud and slush and snow!

Earlier in the week my daughters had been talking about getting snow on the mountain because of the hail storms that had been battering the area.  They were excited about the prospect of snow, and Saturday morning did not disappoint. 

There is a chance that this week we could see some more snow on the mountain, and if we do I urge you to take advantage of it.  Who knows, you might even be want to break out an old pair of skis!