The June Plum Hike Adventure

Ever wished for a one day of excitement and adventure hike? Have I got a hike for you!

Conquer the south face of Mt. Tamalpais! For determined, hiking adventurers only. Starting from the Mill Valley Book Depot (formerly the Mt. Tamalpais RR Station), climb up the Temelpa Trail to the top of East Peak and return down the Telephone Trail. The Plum Hike Adventure is approximately 6 hours and 10 miles round trip for in-shape hikers. It's 3 miles and approximately 2500 feet climb from the start to the top of East Peak.

You don't have to wait until June and July when plums are on the trees. The hike is exhilarating any good-weather day of the year. When the plum trees are dropping their red and yellow, luscious plums, they are "icing on the cake."

Beginning at the Mill Valley Book Depot, start up Bernard Street and continue up the steps to Tamalpais Avenue. Keep climbing upwards onto Summit Avenue and up to Summit and Fern Canyon Road. Temelpa Trail begins at that corner and climbs up to Hoo-Koo-E-Koo Road. Cross Hoo Koo road and continue up the Temelpa Trail.

On the way up Temelpa Trail, stop to read the plaque on Sitting Bull Rock (if it's still there). On it is his 1877 quotation about nature, the indians and the white race of people. When you reach the East Peak visitor's center, take a look around inside for history and information about the mountain. Then, climb up to the Gardner Fire Look Out. It overlooks "eighty cities and towns and twenty California counties," according to an 1897 ad for the Tavern of Tamalpais. Enjoy the panoramic views while eating your lunch. Swallow Tail butterflies are usually flitting around, playing tag at the 2571 foot elevation. When you have had enough lounging around at the top, take the excitingly steep Telephone Trail down to where it meets with the Vic Hahn Trail. Continue on to the junction of Hoo-Koo-E-Koo fire road and old railroad grade.

Walk about a quarter of a mile down railroad grade to the Hoo-Koo-E-Koo trail. The Hoo-Koo-E-Koo trail offers a variety of views of the valley below, and the experience of young forests of redwood trees and chaparral. You will arrive at the Hogback, the fire road. Cross the road and continue on the Hoo-Koo-E-Koo trail to Matt Davis trail. Turn south (left) toward Mountain Home and continue past the water tank and Throckmorton Fire Station to the top of the Zig-Zag trail, below and east of Mountain Home. At the bottom of the Zig-Zag trail is Cascade Drive. Go to the right, downhill. It is a shaded walk to Throckmorton Avenue. When you come to a fork in the road, you can take either Throckmorton Avenue to see the plums and regal residences or turn right down Cascade Drive to admire the magnificent houses bordering Mill Creek. Either way will lead you back to the Mill Valley Book Depot.

This hike is not for beginning hikers or flabby couch potatoes. This is a gut-busting, heart pumping, adrenalin surging climb and descent. On a difficulty scale of 1 to 5, this approaches 5. There isn't much traffic on the Temelpa or Telephone trails. Climbing up the Temelpa, the hot sun may sear you and radiates from the rocks to bake you. Armor piercing, biting flies may attack you on the way up the relentlessly steep climb. Dropping off the top of the mountain down the precipitous, rocky Telephone Trail the treacherous, loose rubble underfoot and sudden drops will be a challenge. Added trail obstacles may include felled brush across the trail. The chaparral will rake your legs. This is not for people with sensitive skin wearing shorts.

The rewards are great views, the satisfaction of conquering the mountain, exhilaration of adventure on the trail, and the no-host ice cream for survivors at the end of the hike. If you are with a group appoint a judge to determine who has the most ferocious horsefly bite(s). Whatever your level of energy at the end of the hike, you will be aware of Mt. Tamalpais, being alive, and your adventurous experience. Afterwards, whenever you look up toward the top of the mountain from the valley below, you will think about your memorable "June Plum Hike."      San Francisco Walt