Mount Diablo
West face of Mount Diablo and Hwy 24
Elevation	3,849 feet (1,173 m)
Location	California, United States
Range	Diablo Range
Prominence	3,109 feet (948 m)
Coordinates	37°52′54″N 121°54′50″W / 37.88167, -121.91389Coordinates: 37°52′54″N 121°54′50″W / 37.88167, -121.91389
Topo map	USGS Clayton
Type	Sedimentary
Age of rock	Cretaceous, Jurassic
Easiest route	road

Mount Diablo is a mountain in Contra Costa County, California in the San Francisco Bay Area, located south of the town of Clayton and northeast of Danville. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Before adding any more images to this * * page please do carefully consider * * whether they would be mere decoration * * or actually improve In topography a summit is a point on a surface which is higher in Elevation than all points immediately adjacent to California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the A mountain range is a chain of Mountains bordered by highlands or separated from other mountains by passes or valleys The Diablo Ranges is a Mountain range in western California, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. A topographic map is a type of Map characterized by large-scale detail and quantitative representation of relief, usually using Contour lines in modern The United States Geological Survey ( USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. Mountains can be characterized in several ways Some mountains are Volcanoes and can be characterized by the type of lava and eruptive history Sedimentary rock is one of the three main rock types (the others being igneous and Metamorphic rock) The geologic time scale is a chronologic schema (or idealized Model) relating Stratigraphy to time that is used by Geologists and other The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Ma (million years ago to  Ma that is from the end of the Triassic to the beginning A climbing route is a path by which a climber reaches the top of a Mountain, rock or ice wall Contra Costa County ( Spanish for "opposite coast" is a suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, or the Bay, is a geographically and ethnically diverse metropolitan region that surrounds the Clayton is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The Town of Danville is located in a part of Contra Costa County California called the San Ramon Valley, United States. It is an isolated 3,849 feet (1,173 m) upthrust peak that is visible from most of the San Francisco Bay Area and much of northern California. Mount Diablo appears from many angles to be a double pyramid and includes many subsidiary peaks, the largest and closest of which is the other half of the double pyramid, North Peak, nearly as high in elevation at 3,557 feet (1,084 m).

The peak is the centerpiece of Mount Diablo State Park, a state park of approximately 20,000 acres (80 km²) in area. State Park is a term used in the United States and in Mexico for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty historic interest recreation or other The park was the first public open space of a complex -- according to Save Mount Diablo -- now including 38 preserves, including adjacent and nearby city open spaces, regional parks, watersheds, etc. A drainage basin is an extent of Land where Water from Rain or Snow melt drains downhill into a body of water such as a River, , buffered in some areas with private lands protected with conservation easements. For railroad track easement see Track transition curve. An easement is the right or freedom to do something or the right to prevent Preserved lands on and around Mount Diablo total more than 90,000 acres (360 km²).

Except for distant views from the Central Valley, Mt. Diablo's northwestern double pyramid view is most familiar to California residents. This view however includes a minor part of the mountain's acreage, most of which stretches east and southeast from the summit through Altamont Pass to the rest of the northern Diablo range.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Cultural history 2.1 Earliest names 2.2 Current name 2.3 Early uses 2.4 Parks and protection of land 2.5 Map of Protected Lands 3 Natural history 3.1 Geology 3.2 Vegetation 3.3 Wildlife 4 Facilities 5 Claims about viewable area 6 Climate 6.1 Data-Collecting Note 7 Mount Diablo Art and Literature 8 Famous Residents 9 Events 10 Mt. Diablo Challenge Bicycle Race 11 References 12 Notes 13 See also 14 External links

Geography

From the summit on a clear day, it is possible to view the mountains of the Sierra Nevada and the southernmost mountain of the volcanic Cascade Range, Mount Lassen more than 180 miles (289 km) away. The Sierra Nevada ( Spanish for "Snowy Range" is a Mountain range located in the U Plate tectonics and hotspots Divergent plate boundaries At the Lassen Peak (also known as Mount Lassen) is the southernmost active Volcano in the Cascade Range. Owing to the earth's curvature it is not possible to see the larger Mount Shasta, although Half Dome in Yosemite National Park, about 125 miles (201 km) to the east, can be viewed with a telescope when the atmosphere is exceptionally clear. Mount Shasta ( Úytaahkoo, Karuk) or the "White Mountain" in English a 14179-foot (4322 m Stratovolcano, is the second-highest peak in the Half Dome is a Granite dome in Yosemite National Park, located at the eastern end of Yosemite Valley — possibly Yosemite's most familiar sight Despite historic claims that the mountain's viewshed is the largest in the world—or second largest after Mt. Kilimanjaro—these claims are unfounded^[1]. A viewshed is an area of land water and other environmental elements that is visible from a fixed vantage point It is however, one of the largest viewsheds in the Western United States.

The best views can be found the day after a winter storm; during the summer visibility can be somewhat hazy. From Stockton, on a clear day, and from many other places similarly distant, Mt. Stockton is a City in California and the seat of San Joaquin County (the fifth largest agricultural county in the United States Diablo and its range can be seen, along with the Sierra Nevada on the eastern horizon. The Sierra Nevada ( Spanish for "Snowy Range" is a Mountain range located in the U Approximately one mile northeast of the summit is North Peak at 3,557 feet (1,084 m).

The summit is accessible by foot, bicycle, or motor vehicle. Road access is via North Gate Road or South Gate Road. The record time by bicycle from The Athenian School in the town of Diablo to the summit is just under 45 minutes. The Athenian School is a college preparatory school located in Danville, California. Diablo is a Census-designated place (CDP in Contra Costa County, California, United States. ^[2]

Cultural history

Mount Diablo is sacred to many California Native American peoples; according to Miwok mythology and Ohlone mythology, it was the point of creation. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States The mythology of the Miwok Native Americans are myths of their world order their creation stories and 'how things came to be' created The Mythology of the Ohlone (Costanoan Native American people of Northern California can be defined as the creation stories as well as other Mount Diablo and Reed’s Peak were surrounded by water. From these two islands the creator Coyote and his assistant Eagle-man made Indian people and the world. ^[3]

Earliest names

Information on prior names for Mount Diablo is found at the organization, Save Mount Diablo: "About 25 independent tribal groups with well-defined territories lived in the surrounding East Bay countryside. Their members spoke dialects of three distinct languages: Ohlone, Bay Miwok, and Northern Valley Yokuts. The Ohlone people also known as the Costanoan and as the Muwekma, are the indigenous people of Northern California who have lived in the Miwok (also spelled Miwuk, Mi-Wuk, or Me-Wuk) can refer to any one of four linguistically-related groups of Native Americans, who lived in what The Yokuts (also known as Mariposans) are an Ethnic group of Native Americans that live in central and northern California. Most of Mount Diablo, including its peak, was within the homeland of the early Volvon, a Bay Miwok-speaking group, and as early as 1811, the mountain was called [in Spanish] Cerro Alto de los Bolbones (High Point of the Volvon). The Bay Miwok refers to a cultural and linguistic group of Miwok a Native American people in Northern California who lived in Contra Costa County The Chochenyo-speaking Ohlone from the Mission San Jose and East Bay area, called the mountain Tuyshtak, meaning 'at the day'. The Chochenyo (also called Chocheño Chocenyo are one of the divisions of the indigenous Ohlone (Coastanoan people of Northern California. The Nisenan of the Sacramento Valley called it Sukkú jaman, or as Nisenan elder Dalbert Castro once explained, 'the place where dogs came from in trade'. The Nisenan, also known as the Southern Maidu and Valley Maidu are one of many native groups of the Central Valley. " A Southern Miwok name was Supemenenu.

It has been suggested that an early Indian name for the mountain is Kawukum or Kahwookum, but there is no evidence to confirm the assertion. According to Indian historian Bev Ortiz and Save Mount Diablo: "The name “Kahwookum” was made up in 1866—with no real Indian connection--referred to the California Legislature’s Committee on Public Morals, and tabled. It resurfaced as a real estate gimmick in 1916 with a supposed new translation “Laughing Mountain” and attributed to Diablo area Volvon Indians. "^[4]

Current name

The conventional view is that the peak derives its name from the 1805 escape of several Chupcan Native Americans from the Spanish in a nearby willow thicket. The Bay Miwok refers to a cultural and linguistic group of Miwok a Native American people in Northern California who lived in Contra Costa County The natives appeared to disappear, and the Spanish soldiers thus gave the thicket the name "Monte del Diablo", meaning "thicket of the devil. "^[5]

General Mariano G. Vallejo, in an 1850 report to the California State legislature, gave this much romanticized story of the derivation of the name of Mt. Don Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo ( 4 July 1807 - 18 January 1890) was a Californian military commander politician and rancher Diablo from its Spanish to Anglo form, related to the mountain and an evil spirit. Vallejo’s report could be interpreted to align with Gudde’s account. (Kyle, and Ortiz)^[3][6]

This name was later applied to Don Salvio Pacheco's Rancho Monte del Diablo, the present-day site of the city of Concord. Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. The name's origin was misinterpreted by English-speaking newcomers to refer to the mountain rather than the thicket. ^[7]

The name Monte del Diablo (‘devil’s woods’) appears on the Plano topográfico de la Misión de San José about 1824, where there was an Indian rancheria perhaps near a thicket at the approximate site of the present town of Concord. {Pacheco} On August 24, 1828, the name was applied to the Monte del Diablo land grant for which Salvio Pacheco had petitioned in 1827. Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River The year 1828 ( MDCCCXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap

In 2005, a man from the neighboring town of Oakley, petitioned the federal government to change the name of the mountain^[8], claiming it offended his Christian beliefs (despite the fact that the mountain was named by Christian settlers). Oakley is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. He initially suggested renaming the mountain Mt. Kawukum, and later, Mt. Yahweh. For information about Yahweh see God in Abrahamic religions, which provides useful links Other renaming suggestions by other individuals included Mount Miwok and Mount Ohlone, after local Indian tribal names. Miwok (also spelled Miwuk, Mi-Wuk, or Me-Wuk) can refer to any one of four linguistically-related groups of Native Americans, who lived in what The Ohlone people also known as the Costanoan and as the Muwekma, are the indigenous people of Northern California who have lived in the Eventually, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names rejected the petitions, saying there was no compelling reason to change the name. The United States Board on Geographic Names (BGN is a United States federal body whose purpose is to establish and maintain uniform usage of geographic

Early uses

In 1851 the south peak of the mountain was selected by Colonel Leander Ransom as the initial point — where the Mount Diablo Base and Meridian lines intersect — for cadastral surveys of a large area. This article describes a concept from Surveying and Geodesy. For other meanings see Datum (disambiguation. A cadastre (also spelled cadaster) is a comprehensive register of the Metes and bounds real property of a country and commonly includes details of Subsequent surveys in much of California, Nevada and Oregon were located with reference to this point. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Nevada ( is a state located in the western region of the United States of America. Oregon ( is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Toll roads up the mountain were created in 1874 by Joseph Seavey Hall and William Camron (sometimes "Cameron"); Hall's Mt. A toll road, (also known as a tollway, turnpike, pike, or toll highway, especially if it is constructed to Freeway standards Diablo Summit Road was officially opened on May 2, 1874. Camron's "Green Valley" road opened later. Hall also built the 16-room Mountain House Hotel near the junction of the two roads, a mile below the summit (2,500 foot elevation, operated through the 1880’s, abandoned 1895, burned c. 1901). An aerial navigation beacon, the Standard Diablo tower^[9] was erected by Standard Oil at the summit in 1928. Navigation is the process of reading and controlling the movement of a craft or vehicle from one place to another The beacon became known as the "Eye of Diablo" and was visible for a hundred miles. ^[3]

Parks and protection of land

After initial legislation in 1921, the state of California acquired enough land in 1931 to create a small state park around the peak. Many improvements were carried out in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps but park expansion slowed in the 1940s, '50s and '60s. Civilian Conservation Corps ( CCC) was a Work relief program for young men from unemployed families established on March 21, 1933, by U Significantly, botanist Mary Leolin Bowerman (1908-2005), founder of Save Mount Diablo in 1971, published her Ph. Dr Mary Leolin Bowerman ( January 25, 1908 - August 21, 2005) was a botanist and author of The Flowering Plants and Ferns of Mount Diablo D in 1936 at the University of California, Berkeley and then in 1944 the book, The Flowering Plants and Ferns of Mount Diablo, California. The University of California Berkeley (also referred to as Cal, Berkeley and UC Berkeley) is a major research university located in Berkeley Her study boundaries became the basis for the state park's first map and for the park's eventual expansion, as well as the origin of many of the park's place names. ^[3]

In 1954, KOVR erected its television transmitter tower on the mountain. KOVR, channel 13 is a CBS owned-and-operated television station licensed to Stockton California, and serving the Sacramento -Stockton television One of the workers involved in the project said that parts of the tower were trucked up to the summit and assembled there. Based in Stockton, the station eventually became affiliated with ABC and was known for its popular "Toonytown" program hosted by Art Finley. The American Broadcasting Company ( ABC) is an American Television network. Art Finley (born Arthur Finger in 1926 in Fairmont West Virginia, U With the completion of the mammoth television tower near Walnut Grove, KOVR moved its transmitter there and later relocated its studios to Sacramento. Walnut Grove is a Census-designated place (CDP in Sacramento County, California, United States.

This initial park has been greatly expanded over the years. Soon after Earth Day in 1971 the nonprofit organization Save Mount Diablo was created by co-founders Mary Bowerman and Art Bonwell, barely ahead of real estate developers. At the time, the state park included just 6,788 acres (27. 5 km²) and was the only park in the vicinity of the mountain. In 2007 the state park totaled almost 20,000 acres (80 km²), and with 38 parks and preserves on and around the mountain, Diablo's public lands total more than 90,000 acres (360 km²)^[10]. The State Park adjoins park lands of the East Bay Regional Park District, including Morgan Territory Regional Preserve, Brushy Peak Regional Preserve, Vasco Caves Regional Preserve, and Round Valley Regional Preserves. The East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD is a Special district operating in Alameda County and Contra Costa County California, within the East Morgan Territory is a region in California on the east side of Mount Diablo in the San Francisco East Bay's Contra Costa County. Brushy Peak Regional Preserve is a Regional park that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system Round Valley Regional Preserve is a Regional park just outside of Antioch CA and Brentwood CA that is part of the East Bay Regional Parks system It also adjoins protected areas owned or controlled by local cities such as the Borges Ranch Historic Farm, the Concord Naval Weapons Station (now in the process of being converted to non military use), Indian Valley, Shell Ridge Open Space and Lime Ridge Open Spaces near city of Walnut Creek, and east to the Los Vaqueros Reservoir watershed, The new Cowell Ranch State Park, and Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, are among the open spaces stretching back to the north. Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. Walnut Creek is a Suburban community located 16 miles east of the city of Oakland The Los Vaqueros Reservoir was completed by the Contra Costa Water District in 1998 to improve the quality of drinking water for its 550000 customers in Central and Eastern The Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve is an area located in Contra Costa County California under the administration of the East Bay Regional Parks District. In this way the open spaces controlled by cities, the East Bay Regional Park District, Mount Diablo State Park, and various regional preserves now adjoin and protect much of the elevated regions of the mountain, with significant exceptions in Arroyo del cerro, Curry Canyon, the Marsh creek region and on the northern slopes of North Peak, and in a number of inholdings surrounded by preserve land.

Park expansion continues on all sides of the mountain although its western boundaries are largely complete. Extensive development continues in the southwestern foothills and Tassajara region; in the upscale development of Blackhawk for example, and some individual estates overlooking the Livermore Valley on Morgan Territory Road. Blackhawk is an unincorporated master planned community located in Contra Costa County California, east of Danville. Other large projects are proposed in the northern Black Diamond Mines and Los Medanos foothills, at the Concord Naval Weapons Station, and near Cowell Ranch State Park. Large scale development of other private parcels is restricted by city and county urban limit lines, by lack of water, excessive slope and sensitive resources including rare species. Smaller ranchette subdivisions continue to fragment and threaten many parcels and large areas of habitat.

Map of Protected Lands

In 2007 Save Mount Diablo published Mount Diablo, Los Vaqueros & Surrounding Parks, Featuring the Diablo Trail, the most accurate and up-to-date map of Mount Diablo's more than 90,000 acres (360 km²) of protected lands, including 100 access points, 520 miles of trail and 400 miles of private fire roads. In accompanying press materials and news articles updated acreages and trail mileages were discussed. ^[11]

Natural history

Geology

The mountain is the result of geologic compression and uplift caused by the movements of the earth's plates. Plate tectonics (from Greek τέκτων tektōn "builder" or "mason" describes the large scale motions of Earth 's Lithosphere The mountain lies between converging earthquake faults and continues to grow slowly. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer While the principal faults in the region are of the slip-strike type, a significant thrust fault (with no surface trace) is found on the mountain's southwest flank. The uplift and subsequent weathering and erosion have exposed ancient oceanic Jurassic and Cretaceous age rocks that now form the summit. The Jurassic is a geologic period and system that extends from about Ma (million years ago to  Ma that is from the end of the Triassic to the beginning The Cretaceous (kriːˈteɪʃəs, usually abbreviated 'K' for its German translation "Kreide" is a geologic period and system, reaching from the end of The mountain grows from three to five milimeters each year.

Mt. Diablo is a double pyramid and some say that it resembles a volcano (but is not). Here is a summary of its geology^[12]:

Mt. Diablo is a geologic anomaly located approximately 30 miles (50 km) east of San Francisco. The upper portion of the Mountain is made up of volcanic and sedimentary deposits of what once was one or more Island Arcs of the Pacific Plate dating back to the Jurassic and Cretaceous Periods, between 190 and 90 million years ago. During this time, the Pacific Plate was subducting beneath the North American Continent and these deposits were scraped off the top and accreted onto the North American Plate. This resulted in the highly distorted and fractured Basalt and Serpentine of the Mt. Diablo Ophiolite and Metasediments of the Franciscan Complex around the summit. East of the subduction zone, a basin was filling with sediment from the ancestral Sierra further to the east. Up to 60,000 feet (18,000 m) of sandstone, mudstone, and limestone of the Great Valley Sequence were deposited from 150 to 66 million years ago. These deposits are now found faulted against the Ophiolite and Franciscan deposits.

Over the past 20 million years, continental deposits have been periodically laid down and subsequently jostled around by the newly-formed San Andreas Fault system, forming the Coast Ranges. Within the last four million years, local faulting has resulted in compression, folding, buckling, and erosion, bringing the various formations into their current juxtaposition. This faulting action is ongoing and will continue to change shape of Mt. Diablo, along with the rest of the Coast Ranges.

The summit area of Mt. Diablo is made up of deposits of gray sandstone (graywacke), chert, oceanic volcanic basalts (greenstone) and a minor amount of shale. Sandstone is a Sedimentary rock composed mainly of Sand -size Mineral or rock grains. Chert (ˈtʃɝt is a fine-grained Silica -rich Microcrystalline, Cryptocrystalline or Microfibrous Sedimentary rock that may contain Basalt (bəˈsɔːlt ˈbeisɔːlt ˈbæsɔːlt is a common Extrusive Volcanic rock. Shale (also called mudstone) is a fine-grained Sedimentary rock whose original constituents were Clay minerals or Muds It is characterized by The hard red Franciscan chert is sedimentary in origin and rich in microscopic radiolaria fossils. Sedimentary rock is one of the three main rock types (the others being igneous and Metamorphic rock) Radiolarians (also radiolaria) are Amoeboid Protozoa that produce intricate Mineral Skeletons typically with a central capsule FOSSIL is a standard protocol for allowing serial communication for Telecommunications programs under the DOS Operating system. In the western foothills of the mountain there are large deposits of younger sandstone rocks rich in seashells, severely tilted and in places forming dramatic ridgelines.

There are deposits of glassmaking-grade sand and lower-quality coal to the north of the mountain, which were formerly mined in the 1800s and early 1900s, but are now open to visitors as the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. The Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve is an area located in Contra Costa County California under the administration of the East Bay Regional Parks District. Guided tours of sand and coal mines are provided here.

Vegetation

The park's vegetation is mixed oak woodland and savannah and open grassland with extensive areas of chaparral and a number of endemic plant species, such as the Mt. The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of about 400 species of Trees and Shrubs in the Genus Quercus (from Latin Chaparral is a Shrubland or heathland Plant community found primarily in the U Endemism is the Ecological state of being unique to a place Endemic species are not naturally found elsewhere Diablo manzanita (Arctostaphylos auriculata), Mt. Diablo globe lily (Calochortus pulcellus) and Diablo sunflower (Helianthella castanea). The park includes substantial thickets, isolated examples, and mixed ground cover of western poison-oak. Toxicodendron diversilobum (syn Rhus diversiloba; Western Poison-oak or Pacific Poison-oak) is a plant best known for its ability to cause (It is best to learn to the characteristics of this shrub and its toxin before hiking on narrow trails through brush and to be aware that it can be bare of leaves (but toxic to contact) in the winter. )

At higher altitudes there are stands of Knobcone pine, Foothill pine, and Coulter pine (for which the park and nearby Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve mark the northern extreme of the range). The Knobcone Pine ( Pinus attenuata) is a Tree that grows in mild climates on poor soils The Gray Pine ( Pinus sabineana) is a Pine endemic to California in the United States. The Coulter Pine or Big-cone Pine ( Pinus coulteri) is a native of the coastal mountains of southern California ( United States) and northern

In 2005, the endangered species Mount Diablo buckwheat (Eriogonum truncatum), thought to be extinct since last seen in 1936, was rediscovered in a remote area of the mountain. An endangered species is a population of an organism which is at risk of becoming Extinct because it is either few in numbers or threatened by changing environmental or predation Mount Diablo buckwheat ( Eriogonum truncatum) is a small pink flower believed to have been extinct since 1936 until its rediscovery in 2005 Species of plants endemic to the Mount Diablo area are Brewer's Phacelia (Phacelia breweri) at Mt Diablo and the Mt. Endemism is the Ecological state of being unique to a place Endemic species are not naturally found elsewhere Hamilton Range of The Diablo mountains; Chaparral Harebell (Campanula exigua), Mt Diablo and Hamilton Range; Contra Costa Manzanita (Arctostaphylos manzanita ssp. Laevigata), Mt Diablo, Black Diamond, Morgan Territory; Jepson's Coyote Thistle, Mt. Diablo; Mt Diablo Buckwheat (Eriogonum truncatum) presumed extinct until 2005, historical range of Mt Diablo to Antioch, with an old record from Solano County as well; Mt. Diablo Manzanita (Arctostaphylos auriculta), Mt Diablo & adjacent uplands in Contra Costa County; Mt. Diablo Sunflower (Helianthella castanea), common on Mt. Diablo proper, and also occurring on adjacent uplands, parts of the East Bay hills, historically on the San Francisco peninsula, Mt. Diablo Fairy Lantern (Calochortus pulchellus), Mt Diablo & adjacent uplands, also Briones to Carquinez, and possibly Solano County; Mt. Diablo bird's-beak (Cordylanthus nidularius)^[13], restricted to serpentine on Mt Diablo; Mt. Diablo Phacelia (Phacelia phacelioides), Mt. Diablo and Mt. Hamilton Range (known from fewer than 20 occurrences, many historical); Mt. Diablo Jewel Flower (Streptanthus hispidus), only Mt. Diablo proper; Rock Sanicle (Sanicula saxatilis), Mt. Diablo and Northern Hamilton Range.

Wildlife

All vegetation, minerals and wildlife within the park are protected and it is illegal to remove such items or to harass any wildlife.

Commonly seen animals include coyote, bobcat, Black-tailed Deer, California Ground Squirrels, Fox Squirrels and Grey Foxes; many other mammals including Mountain lions are present. The coyote (kaɪˈoʊti ˈkaɪoʊt ( Canis latrans) also known as the prairie wolf, is a Mammal of the order Carnivora The Bobcat ( Lynx rufus) is a North American Mammal of the cat family Felidae. The Black-tailed deer, or Blacktail deer ( Odocoileus hemionus) is a species of Deer found in western North America, specifically the The California Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus beecheyi (referred to in some older sources as Otospermophilus beecheyi or Citellus beecheyi) is a common The Fox Squirrel ( Sciurus niger) is the largest species of tree Squirrels native to North America. The Gray Fox ( Urocyon cinereoargenteus) is a Mammal of the order Carnivora ranging throughout most of the southern half of North America The cougar ( Puma concolor) also puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on region is a Mammal of the Felidae family It is a chief remaining refuge for the threatened Alameda Whipsnake, California red-legged frog. Threatened species are any species (including Animals Plants fungi, etc The California Whipsnake ( Masticophis lateralis) aka Striped Racer, is a Colubrid snake of the California coast and foothills The California Red-legged Frog is a moderate to large (44-14 cm Species of Frog. Less common wildlife species include the reintroduced peregrine falcon, ringtail cats, and to the east American badgers, San Joaquin kit fox, roadrunners, California tiger salamander, and burrowing owls. The Peregrine Falcon ( Falco peregrinus) also known simply as the Peregrine, and historically as the "Duck Hawk" in North America is a The ringtail ( Bassariscus astutus) is a Mammal of the raccoon family, native to arid regions of North America. The American Badger, Taxidea taxus, is a North American Badger, somewhat similar in appearance to the European Badger. The roadrunners are two species of Bird in the genus Geococcyx of the Cuckoo family Cuculidae native to North and The California tiger salamander ( Ambystoma californiense) is an Endangered amphibian native to Northern California. The Burrowing Owl ( Athene cunicularia) is a small long-legged owl found throughout open landscapes of North and South America There are also exotic (non-native) animals such as the Red Fox and Opossum, the latter being North America's only marsupial. The Red Fox ( Vulpes vulpes) is a Mammal of the order Carnivora. Didelphimorphia is the order of common opossums of the Western Hemisphere. Marsupials are an Infraclass of Mammals characterized by a distinctive pouch (called the marsupium) in which females carry their young through

In September and October you may encounter the male Tarantula spider (Aphonopelma Smithi) as he seeks a mate. Tarantula is the common name for a group of hairy and often very large Spiders belonging to the family Theraphosidae, of which approximately 900 species These spiders are harmless, unless severely provoked, however the bite is only as bad as a bee sting. More dangerous are black widow spiders, far less likely to be encountered in the open. The black widow spider is a group of Spiders which includes the southern black widow ( Latrodectus mactans) the northern black widow

And in the wintertime, between November and February, you can witness the Bald Eagle and the Golden Eagle. The Bald Eagle ( Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is a Bird of prey found in North America that is most recognizable as the national bird and The Golden Eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos) is one of the best known birds of prey in the Northern Hemisphere These birds are less easily seen than many raptors; Golden Eagles particularly fly at high elevations. Mt. Diablo, however, is part of the Altamont Area/Diablo Range, which enjoys the largest concentration of Golden Eagles anywhere. In recent years there have been credible sightings of California Condors, which have been reintroduced at Pinnacles National Monument, located to the south in the Gilroy-Hollister area.

Of special note as potential hazards are Northern Pacific Rattlesnake. Common names: western rattlesnake northern Pacific rattlesnake Pacific rattlesnake more. While generally shy and non-threatening, one should be observant and cautious of where one steps to avoid accidentally disturbing one. They are often found warming themselves in the open (as on trails and ledges) on cool, sunny days. Other wildlife to avoid include Poison Oak, Hop Tree, fleas, ticks and mosquitoes.

There has also been an increase in the mountain lion population in the larger region and one should know how to respond if these animals are encountered. Please see the mountain lion safety tips in the Mountain lion article. The cougar ( Puma concolor) also puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on region is a Mammal of the Felidae family The cougar ( Puma concolor) also puma, mountain lion, or panther, depending on region is a Mammal of the Felidae family

Facilities

Gate houses are located at the end of Northgate Road (in Walnut Creek) and Diablo Road (in Danville). Walnut Creek is a Suburban community located 16 miles east of the city of Oakland The Town of Danville is located in a part of Contra Costa County California called the San Ramon Valley, United States. The Danville entrance is also known as Southgate. If the gate houses are not operating, the park fees may be paid at the junction ranger station, where the two roads join.

From here the road reaches the summit of the mountain, where there is a visitors center housing an observation deck and natural history exhibits. On busy days it is advisable to park at the large parking lot near the summit and take a short walk up to the summit. At this lot you may encounter hang gliders ready for launch. History See also History of hang gliding Summary: Hang gliding existed in China perhaps by the 4th century AD according to the writing of the There is also a restroom here and at the summit.

From the elevation of the lower lot the Mary Bowerman Trail^[14] is a level wheelchair-accessible trail with interpretive stations that extends part way around the mountain; a regular single track trail completes the loop. There are 520 miles of hiking and equestrian trails, some available for mountain biking. The word 'hiking' is understood in all English-speaking countries but there are differences in usage Mountain biking entails the Sport of riding Bicycles off-road often over rough terrain whether riding specially equipped Mountain bikes or hybrid road bikes

Camping facilities are available within the park. Definition Camping describes a range of activities Survivalist campers set off with little more than their boots whereas Recreational vehicle travelers arrive equipped There are numerous picnic sites. Pets are restricted and require proper documentation for rabies (not just a tag). Daytime visitors must exit the park by sunset except for special events. Some picnic spots may be reserved but most are available without reservation.

Alcohol is strictly forbidden in the park. Fires are allowed only during the wet season (generally December through April), and only in sanctioned fire pits. The park may be closed on windy days during the dry season due to extremely hazardous fire conditions.

Two additional entrances with parking for hikers are provided on the northwest side of the park at Mitchell Canyon and Donner Canyon. Mitchell Canyon provides easy access to Black Point and Eagle Peak. Donner Canyon provides hikers access to Eagle Peak, Mount Olympia, North Peak, and the popular Falls Trail, which features several seasonal waterfalls.

Claims about viewable area

According to a sign at the summit, it is possible to view the second greatest surface area seen from any peak in the world, exceeded only by the 19,340 foot (5,895 m) Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa. ^[15] This myth was promulgated by early real estate promoter Robert Noble Burgess, who built the first auto roads to Diablo's summit, as a draw to his Mt. Diablo Estates project, c. 1914-1917. The Mt. Kilimanjaro qualifier was first added in the 1928 Standard Oil Bulletin, which described the new Standard Diablo (SD) Tower.

The lack of surrounding peaks does indeed give the intimidating mountain an immense view. However, Diablo's relatively low height and the curvature of the earth limit the visible horizon over the sea and surrounding plains to approximately 78 miles (125 km). Beyond that, only ridges are visible and then only on their appropriately facing sides. Many higher peaks around the world offer greater general viewing distances over seas and flat plains.

One calculation shows that the viewshed from Mount McKinley (Denali) in Alaska is about three times greater. A viewshed is an area of land water and other environmental elements that is visible from a fixed vantage point "Denali" redirects here For other meanings see Denali (disambiguation. Alaska ( Аляска Alyaska) is a state in the United States of America, in the northwest of the North American continent Nor is it plausible that more viewable area can be seen from the Diablo summit than any other peak in the lower 48 states. The viewshed east from Colorado summits (e. g. Pike's Peak) over the Great Plains is much greater. See the panorama external link at the foot of this page.

Climate

The National Weather Service maintains a weather station at Mount Diablo Junction, 2,170 feet (661 m) above sea level. The National Weather Service ( NWS) once known as the Weather Bureau is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration The warmest month at the station is July with an average high of 85. 2 °F (29. 5 °C) and an average low of 59. 6 °F (15. 3 °C). The coolest month is January with an average high of 55. 6 °F (13. 1 °C) and an average low of 39. 3° (4. 1 °C). The highest temperature recorded there was 111 °F (43. 9 °C) on July 15, 1972. Events 1099 - First Crusade: Christian soldiers take the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem after the final Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The lowest temperature on record was 14 °F (-10 °C) on February 6, 1989, and on December 14, 1990. Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Events 1287 - St Lucia's flood: The Zuider Zee sea wall in the Netherlands collapses killing over 50000 people Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) (The San Francisco Chronicle reported that the temperature dropped to 10 °F (-12. The San Francisco Chronicle was founded in 1865 as The Daily Dramatic Chronicle by teenage brothers Charles de Young and Michael H 2 °C) at the summit on January 21, 1962. Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. ) Temperatures reach 90 °F (32. 2 °C) or higher on an average of 36. 0 days each year and 100 °F (37. 8 °C) or higher on 3. 3 days each year. Lows of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower occur on an average of 15. 4 days annually.

Annual precipitation averages 23. 96 inches (60. 86 cm). The most precipitation recorded in a month was 13. 54 inches (34. 39 cm) in February 1998. The greatest 24-hour precipitation was 5. 02 inches (12. 75 cm) on January 21, 1972. Events 1189 - Philip II of France and Richard I of England begin to assemble troops to wage the Third Crusade. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The average annual days with measurable precipitation is 65. 3 days.

Snowfall at Mount Diablo Junction averages 1. 2 inches (3. 0 cm) each year. The most snowfall observed in a month was 17. 0 inches (43. 2 cm) in April 1975; that same month saw 6. 0 inches (15. 2 cm) in one day (April 4, 1975). Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The greatest snow depth was 3 inches (7. 6 cm) on January 27, 1972. Events 98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Measurable snowfall does not occur every year, so the annual average days with measurable snowfall is only . 5 days. Snow is more common in the upper reaches of the mountain.

Data-Collecting Note

It is important to note that the weather station is positioned at only about 55 percent of the mountain's height, and temperature and snow levels are notably different at the upper reaches of the mountain, where more snow and lower temperatures may have occurred, but simply not have been recorded. Nearby Bay Area mountains, like Mount Hamilton, have their weather stations virtually at the maximum height of the mountain. Mount Hamilton is a Mountain in California 's Diablo Range. In 1861 while working for Josiah D This is why recorded snow levels on Mount Hamilton are much higher than the ones recorded at Mount Diablo Junction, even though the difference in height of Mount Hamilton and Mount Diablo is only about 400 feet (122 m). Wind speed, direction and temperature are measured at the peak and presented by an automatic telephone voice response system and recorded information concerning gate open times, road and pet restrictions, and events is available at another number. These numbers are posted at the park website.

Mount Diablo Art and Literature

Mt. Diablo has inspired many artists and writers. Early work centered on exploration, surveying and was related to the rise and popularization of tourism in the Pacific west. Themes were suggested and heightened by early tourism promoters, the beginnings of the area's preservation and the rise of the environmental movement. The focus was accelerated by artists associated with the University of California, Berkeley, the California College of Arts, the actions of the organizations Save Mount Diablo and the Mt. The University of California Berkeley (also referred to as Cal, Berkeley and UC Berkeley) is a major research university located in Berkeley Diablo Interpretive Association, and area art centers, galleries, and museums. In modern times Mt. Diablo art has been most strongly represented in plein aire painting, especially the group Artists for Action, and photography.

Representative work includes books and articles by classical writers such as William Brewer, Richard Henry Dana, Alexandre Dumas, père, Bret Harte, and the Reverend Thomas Starr King, and modern ones such as Mark Allen Cunningham. Richard Henry Dana Jr ( August 1, 1815 - January 6, 1882) was an American Lawyer and Politician, and author Bret Harte ( August 25, 1836 &ndash May 6, 1902) was an American Author and Poet, best remembered for his accounts Thomas Starr King ( December 17 1824 &ndash March 4 1864) was an American Unitarian minister influential in California Poets whose work features the mountain include Philip Lamantia and Helen Pinkerton. Philip Lamantia ( October 23, 1927 - March 7, 2005) was a United States Poet and lecturer

Early painters include Thomas Almond Ayres, Eugene Camerer, W. H. Dougal, Eduard Hildebrandt, Charles Hittell, Edward Jump, William Keith, John Ross Key, Charles Koppel, Edward Lehman, Pascal Loomis, Henry Miller, Joseph Warren Revere, through Clarkson Dye and others, to modern painters such as Robert Becker, Frank J. Bette, Ruth Breve, Betty Boggess Lathrap, Paul Carey, Bob Chapla, Mary Lou Correia, Ellen Curtis, Pam Della, Susan Dennis, Warren Dreher, John Finger, Pam Glover, JoAnn Hanna, Peg Humphreys, Don Irwin, Jeanne Kapp, Geri Keary, Chris Kent, Paul Kratter, Eunice Kritscher, Fred Martin, Cathy Moloney, Shirley Nootbaar, Charlotte Panton, Greg Piatt, Kenneth Potter, Ocean Quigley, Don Reich, Mary Silverwood, Barbara Stanton, Bruce Stangeland, Marty Stanley, and even the recognized comic book painter Dan Brereton.

Photographers include Ansel Adams, Cleet Carlton, Alfred A. Hart, Scott Hein, Stephen Joseph, Don Paulson, Brad Perks, Robert Picker, Richard Rollins, David Sanger, Michael Sewell and Bob Walker.

The mountain has inspired musical artists ranging from the Kronos Quartet to commissioned works by the California Symphony. Kronos Quartet is a String quartet founded by Violinist David Harrington in 1973

Famous Residents

Mount Diablo has been the home of a number of famous residents.

James "Grizzly" Adams was a frequent visitor and resident on Mount Diablo in the mid-1850s. James (or John Capen "Grizzly" Adams was born October 12, 1812 (according to his gravestone which also gives his first name as John and died ^[16]

Robert Walter "Bob" Jones, the first professional baseball player out of Contra Costa County, was born in the "Jones House" in Irish Canyon in 1889, a current acquisition project of Save Mount Diablo.

The Mount Diablo Ranch, or Diablo Ranch was successively owned by Robert Noble Burgess (b. 1878 - d. 1965), who founded the community of Diablo and built the mountain's first auto roads, and millionaire Walter Paul Frick (aka W. P. Frick, b. 1875 - d. 1937), who lived in Diablo and was important in the creation of the State Park in 1931; including sale of six of the first seven parcels for the new park.

Jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, grew up on Brubeck Ranch near the park's Northgate entrance. David Warren Brubeck (born December 6, 1920 in Concord California) better known as Dave Brubeck, is an American jazz pianist

The area for the 6,500-acre (26 km²) Blackhawk Farm, including the mountain's southern Black Hills, was acquired from Burgess and created by Ansel Mills Easton, the namesake uncle of photographer Ansel Adams. Eventually nearly two-thirds of the farm was added to Mt. Diablo State Park. The remainder was developed as the community of Blackhawk by resident developer Ken Behring. Blackhawk is an unincorporated master planned community located in Contra Costa County California, east of Danville. Kenneth Eugene Behring (born June 13, 1928 in Freeport Illinois) is a Real-estate developer, former owner of the Seattle Seahawks

Events

Every year on December 7 the aircraft beacon atop the summit building is illuminated from sunset to dawn. Events 43 BC - Marcus Tullius Cicero assassinated 1696 - Connecticut Route 108, one of the oldest highways A ceremony memorializing the attack on Pearl Harbor on this day in 1941 is held at the summit, with some of the few remaining survivors who are present. The attack on Pearl Harbor (or Hawaii Operation, as it was called by the Imperial General Headquarters) was a surprise Military strike conducted by The public is welcome and visitors on this day should enter the park before 4:00 PM. General parking will be at the lower lot on these days, with a short uphill walk by trail or road to the summit. Visitors may leave later than usual — this is one of the few opportunities to view the sunset from the peak, weather permitting, without an overnight stay.

Under cloudless conditions, more interesting than the sunset itself is the view of the progression of the mountain's shadow across the California Central Valley to the distant Sierra Nevada, finally appearing for a few moments above the horizon as a shadow in the post-sunset sky glow. The Central Valley is a large flat valley that dominates the central portion of the U The Sierra Nevada ( Spanish for "Snowy Range" is a Mountain range located in the U

In April 1946, an Army C-45 transport plane crashed on the north side of the mountain, killing the pilot and co-pilot ^[17].

Save Mount Diablo sponsors many spring and fall schedules of events on the mountain, Spring on Diablo and Autumn on Diablo, as well as many other special events, including its anniversary event, Moonlight on the Mountain; Four Days Diablo, a trip on the Diablo Trail; the Mt. Diablo Challenge, an annual Hill climbing (cycling)hill climb to the summit with more than 1,100 cyclists each October; and the Mt. Diablo Trail Adventure, combined 10k and half-marathon hikes and runs.

The park is popular in winter, when Bay Area residents can enjoy the rare experience of snowfall on the mountain. Snow occurs from the lower reaches of the park all the way to the peak, as was the case in February 2001 and February and March 2006. On Friday, March 10, 2006, an extremely cold storm moved into the region from the Gulf of Alaska, and noticeable amounts of snow fell in all regions of the Bay Area above 500 feet (152 m). Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The Gulf of Alaska is an arm of the Pacific Ocean defined by the curve of the southern coast of Alaska, stretching from the Alaska Peninsula and The summit of the mountain received around six inches (15 cm) of snow at its peak, and the access roads were closed to automobiles at the 3,000 feet (914 m) mark due to the hazardous icy conditions above.

Occasionally there will be public access to astronomical observations made by a local astronomy club. This club has been allocated a small parcel on the mountain and is developing a permanent observatory at this location. The instrument to be installed will have digital-imaging capabilities and visitors will be able to take home an astronomical image that they may display on their home computer system.

Mt. Diablo Challenge Bicycle Race

The Mt. Diablo Challenge is a bicycle race held annually on the first Sunday in October. The race begins at the Athenian School at the base of the mountain and climbs 3,249 feet (990. 3 m) in 10. 8 miles (17. 4 km). The race typically draws between 800 to 1,100 riders each year who compete in a mass-start format. Bicycle riders of every age and ability are represented in the diverse field, from weekend enthusiasts to top professionals. Prizes are typically awarded to the top overall male and female finishers, along with several age-specific categories. The most coveted prize is the special "One-Hour" t-shirts, awarded to those who finish the climb in less than one hour.

Course Record The course record for the Mt. Diablo climb currently stands at 44 minutes, 58 seconds, set in 2004 by former professional cyclist Greg Drake (Webcor Cycling Team) of Redwood City, California^[2]. The previous course record was set by former professional cyclist Mike Engleman (Coors Light Pro Cycling Team) in 1990 with a time of 45 minutes, 20 seconds.

References

• Information from the California State Parks leaflet on Mount Diablo State Park, issue 8/01, 2000.

Notes

See also

• List of highest points in California by county

External links

• Mount Diablo page of the California State Parks official website
• Save Mount Diablo is a non-profit organization formed in 1971 which acquires land, responds to development proposals, creates recreational opportunities and conducts events and educational programs related to Mt. This is a list of highest points in the US state of California by county in alphabetical order Diablo. SMD also publishes the most accurate regional recreation map of the Diablo parks.
• Mt. Diablo Interpretative Association, a non-profit organization working to help the public enjoy the Mount Diablo park
• 360 degree view from the summit
• Mount Diablo Astronomical Society
• Mount Diablo Observatory Association
• Check-Six.com - Story of the 1946 Crash of an Army C-45F on the northern face of Mt. Diablo
• Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
• MT. DIABLO CAM ~Live webcam~
• Old Borges Ranch demonstration farm
• Photos of Mount Diablo State Park
• Computer-generated summit panoramas North South index. Note comments in the "Geography" section on this page about the viewshed.
• Up and Down California in 1860-1864

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