Summer Symphony above West Marin

Have Canon will travel

  Was heading for a regular hike up nearby Big Rock Ridge only a few miles away. It's been  my favorite place to hike for years. Had  the camera as usual. Suddenly I decided to go considerably further, another 10 miles out to the Nicasio Reservoir area for something different. The closer I got the more I realized the coastal fog was rapidly rolling in. It was looking like the spontaneous change of plans were not such a good call.
A second change of plans brought me to the foot of San Geronimo Ridge several miles to the south. The fog was coming from the northwest. Although Nicasio Reservoir was already buried in fog San Geronimo Valley was mostly clear but the fog bank was hurtling toward the valley at well over 1,500' high and was threatening to overtake all the highpoints of west Marin County for the duration of the night within the next few hours.

A heavenly evening on San Geronimo Ridge.

  The summer sky had had enough moisture for the last few days to manifest a fine array of cirrus cloud displays. They were still playing overhead as I started up the steep fire road to the top of the ridge. I was moving with some urgency since the oncoming fog had it's own agenda which did not include a guaranteed view from on high when I got to the top.
By the time I reached the highest point {1,380'} the late afternoon light was falling at a subtle angle across the landscape bringing out the shadowy contours and golden hues of the dry grass covered hills and ridges all around. Soon the first of the fog started arriving as the sky overhead continued it's cirrus symphony.
It turned out to be one of the most heavenly moments I call recall in all the years of local hiking.

The fog shrugs it's shoulders

   After about 30 minutes on top the fog appeared to be getting  the upper hand as the sun and cloud play high above began to vanish in the grey mist. It would be dark soon anyway so I started back. As I headed down the descent flashes of sunlight began to break though the grey and remarkably within a short period of time the fog just retreated back to a still point. Apparently it was too lazy to advance further. After a dramatic entrance it had decided to call it a day and melt back into the silent darkness of rolling hills, pines and redwoods.

Images

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