The Invisible Peak

Mt. Tamalpais, sentinel peak of the San Francisco Bay Area, is considered sacred by many... native and non-native alike. In 1950, the military bulldozed the highest peak of the mountain to build an Air Force Station tasked with directing jet interceptors and short range Nike nuclear missiles against the potential threat of Russian nuclear bombers. By 1980 the base was obsolete and summarily closed. The military literally walked away from dozens of structures, leaving behind a huge toxic mess on the mountain. Through the use of historical footage, 3D reconstruction, interviews and breathtaking time-lapse cinematography, this 20-minute film, made with George Daly narrated and co-written by Peter Coyote, explores the history of Tam's West Peak and how local citizens have been fighting to restore their mountain to a natural state. © 2014 Gary Yost.