Marin County Highpoint Trip Report

Mount Tamalpais (West Peak - 2,576 feet)

Date: Apr. 23, 2016
Author: Dinesh Desai

Greg Slayden is correct. West peak is the true HP of Marin county.

Fred Johnson and I have known since 2003 that a survey showed West Peak to be higher than the East Peak. However, at the time, the West Peak had a chain link fence around it (with barbed wire on top), and not really accessible. At that time, Gary Suttle (author of California County Summits and a very close friend of mine) was suffering from terminal cancer. I remember discussing the issue of West Peak with Fred Johnson. Since the peak appeared to be inaccessible, we decided to just keep quiet and let Gary not suffer the pain of not having climbed the true Marin County HP. Gary passed away last year.

I have attached a newspaper article confirming the fact that West Peak is indeed higher than East Peak along with my letter of inquiry (which was not answered). in 2007, Fred Johnson did manage to get inside the fenced area and climb the HP. He was lucky in that the gate was left open by a man working inside one of the buildings. I do not know if the area is still fenced and gated.