Sunday, July 26, 2009

German Tourist Club - Mt. Tamalpais

So Saturday I took some friends visiting from Oregon to the German Tourist Club on Mt. Tam. I had never been, so I was very interested to check it out. I had been past it years before when it was closed, and was very curious. Two separate friends visited it earlier this summer and that sealed it.

The German Tourist Club is the local branch of the Nature Friends, " a non-profit confederation of over 500,000 hikers, climbers, skiers and others who love the outdoors." It is in the middle of the forest on Mt. Tam and is a short hike from the parking area across from Mountain Home Inn or a longer hike from Mill Valley on the Dipsea. It is open most weekends to the public (see website for directions and schedules) when they serve German beer and snacks. A great time was being had by all, with kids running around, people drinking, playing games, and soaking up the sun. I still can't believe I had never been before. I will definitely be going again.

After drinking a little too much beer we decided to continue our hike on the east side of Mt. Tam with some stunning views of the bay. The fog (this being summer) was just starting to pour in through the golden gate and then over the Marin headlands. As the sun got lower in the sky, the light lit up the trees (in the pic are some madrones) and the fog moved in thicker and faster. A very San Francisco kind of summer day.

6 comments:

  1. In Germany, you actually do the hike first, and then you drink the beer. That's why there's restaurants on top of so many mountains. But hey, this is California! (Nice madrone pics!)

    renate

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  2. Very beautiful scenery. I like the last picture most. Pardon me for not knowing, but is that mist, cloud or snow covering the mountain?

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  3. What a good tip.

    I always think it's weird for places in natural environments like this to use landscaping plants. I mean, what are palms and yuccas doing on Mount Tam? Discordant!

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  4. I was thinking the same thing Chuck. They're tropical looking. At a German Tourist Club. On Mt. Tam. Very weird. It's supposedly quite old too. My friend is third or fourth generation from Marin and said both his grandfather and dad went when they were younger.

    Autumn Belle, the last is my favorite as well. That's fog coming in off the ocean and swallowing the hills.

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  5. Sounds like a great day's outing. I've always thought nature could be improved up with a strategically placed Bierhaus at the end of a long day's hike.

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  6. The German Tourist Club has been popping up for me lately, so seeing it here sealed the deal - I'm going and I'm totally excited. I read somewhere that they have a polka party now and then too. I love your blog and am already learning from it. Thanks!

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