slicing up the mountains

In California, mountains jut up from the waters of the Pacific and create two things: a pain the a$$ place to build and curvy roads wherever you look.  Head north and you're across the Golden Gate bridge and into mountainous Marin County.  Head south down the coast and it's more of the same.  Curvy roads along the coast.  Curvy roads up in the mountains.  One trip to Alice's and you're hooked.  It's like this state never learned that the shortest route between two points is a straight line.  Good for them.