JMT14: Rock n Back

Instead of taking a day off this week, I went for a quick little run around the neighborhood with my younger brother, Josh. While it doesn’t quite qualify as “mountain exploration,” it gets the nod, as a road run at the foot of the mountain, to be JMT-eligible.

Hoping that the heat would burn off by early evening, we set out for “The Rock” around 5:00, running down Summit for a short minute before cutting over on Magee and beginning to climb up Tamalpais (the street, not the mountain). Tamalpais runs parallel to Summit before the two eventually join together for the final climb to Fern Canyon, and it is usually my “pavement of choice” when I run up the street to the many trails waiting there. There’s fewer cars, fewer people, and it’s generally more peaceful. It’s still road running, but it doesn’t feel as much like it.

After Tamalpais intersects Summit, it shoots off to the left for a short flat section before it dead-ends at a place that we locals like to call “The Rock.” It is, quite literally, a large rock surrounded by gravel and a pretty nifty view of the tree-covered valley below. It is nothing too special, but it’s definitely a fun place to have right around the corner and you can tell that everybody around here loves it.

We turned around there and headed home, this time taking Summit down, which is a little bit shorter. It felt good to get on my feet, and I’m glad I got this goon to come with me. See you tomorrow!

👊✌️

Jonathan