Mount Diablo State Park
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{{Mtnbox start |Name=Mount Diablo |Photo=northpeak.jpg |Caption=Mt. Diablo's North Peak |Elevation=3,849 feet (1,173 metres) |Location=California, United States |Range=Diablo Range}} Template:Mtnbox prom Template:Mtnbox coor dms Template:Mtnbox topo Template:Mtnbox geology Template:Mtnbox climb Template:Mtnbox finish
Mount Diablo State Park is a state park in Contra Costa County, California in the San Francisco Bay Area, located south of the town of Clayton and northeast of Danville. The park is approximately 20,000 acres (80 km²) in area and includes as its centerpiece Mount Diablo, an isolated 3,849-foot (1,173 m) upthrust peak that is visible from most of the San Francisco Bay Area and much of northern California.
The park is popular in winter, when Bay Area residents can occasionally enjoy the rare experience of a snowfall on the mountain's peak. Occasionally, snow occurs in lower portions of the park, as was the case in February 2006, when snow fell at the Junction Ranger Station at an elevation of just more than 2000 feet.
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Geography
The summit of Mount Diablo itself is accessible by motor vehicle, hiking, running, or bicycle (the record time from the Athenian School in the town of Diablo to the summit is under 45 minutes; casual bicycle riders should bring plenty of food and water).
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. Owing to the earth's curvature it is not possible to see the larger Mount Shasta, although Half Dome in Yosemite National Park can be viewed with a telescope when the atmosphere is exceptionally clear.
The best views can be found the day after a winter storm, but during the summer visibility can be somewhat hazy. From Stockton, CA, on a clear day, and from many other places similarly distant, Mt. Diablo and its range can be seen along with the Sierra Nevada (US) on the eastern horizon. Approximately a mile northeast of the summit is North Peak at 3,557 feet (1,084 m).
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. 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 Diablo an expansive 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. 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.
Cultural history
Mount Diablo is sacred to many California Native American peoples; according to Miwok mythology, it was the point of creation.
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 Spanish thus gave the thicket the name "Monte del Diablo", meaning "thicket of the devil", which was later applied to Don Salvio Pacheco's Rancho Monte del Diablo, the present-day site of the city of Concord. The name's origin was misinterpreted by English-speaking newcomers to refer to the mountain rather than the thicket.<ref>Ortiz, Bev, Mount Diablo As Myth And Reality; An Indian History Convoluted; American Indian Quarterly, Fall 1989</ref>
In 1851 the peak of the mountain was selected by Colonel Leander Ransom as the initial point -- where the Mt Diablo Base and Meridian lines intersect -- for cadastral surveys of a large area. Subsequent surveys in much of California, Nevada and Oregon were located with reference to this point. Toll roads up the mountain were created in 1874 by local hoteliers, and an aerial navigation beacon was erected at the summit in 1928.
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. Significantly, botanist Mary Leolin Bowerman (1908-2005) published her Ph.D in 1936 at U.C. Berkeley and then in 1944 the book, The Flowering Plants and Ferns of Mount Diablo, California. 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.
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 Bowerman and Art Bonwell, barely ahead of real estate developers. At the time the State Park included just 6,788 acres and was the only park in the vicinity of the mountain. In 2006 the State Park totals almost 20,000 acres and with 28 other parks and preserves created nearby, Diablo's public lands total more than 89,000 acres. Now, the State Park in many places on its western side adjoins parklands of the East Bay Regional Park District, in turn adjoining protected areas owned or controlled by local cities such as the Borges Ranch Historic Farm and nearby Shell Ridge Open Space and Indian Valley, owned by the city of Walnut Creek. State park expansion continues on the northern and eastern sides of the mountain.
In 2005, a man from the neighboring town of Oakley, petitioned the federal government to change the name of the mountain, claiming it offended his Christian beliefs (despite the fact that the mountain was named by Christian settlers). He initially suggested renaming the mountain Mt. Kawukum, and later, Mt. Yahweh. Eventually, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names rejected the petition, saying there was no compelling reason to change the name.
Natural history
Geology
Image:MtDiabloView.jpg The mountain is the result of geologic compression and uplift caused by the movements of the earth's plates. The mountain lies between converging earthquake faults and continues to grow slowly. While the principal faults in the region are of the slip-strike type, a significant thrust fault 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 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. The hard red Franciscan chert is sedimentary in origin and rich in microscopic radiolaria fossils. 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. Guided tours of sand and coal mines are provided here.
Vegetation
The park's vegetation is mixed oak and open grassland country with extensive areas of chaparral and a number of endemic plant species, including substantial thickets, isolated examples, and mixed ground cover of western poison-oak. 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).
In 2005, the Mount Diablo buckwheat, thought to be extinct since last seen in 1936, was rediscovered in a remote area of the mountain.
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 Black-tailed Deer, California Ground Squirrels, Fox Squirrels and Gray Foxes; many other mammals including Mountain lions are present. It is the chief remaining refuge for the endangered Alameda Whipsnake. There are also exotic (non-native) animals such as the Red Fox and Opossum, the latter being North America's only Marsupial.
In September and October you may encounter the male Tarantula spider (fearsome in appearance but harmless if undisturbed) as he seeks a mate. More dangerous are black widow spiders, far less likely to be encountered in the open.
Of special note as a potential hazard is the Northern Pacific Rattlesnake. 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.
There has also been an increase in the mountain lion population in the larger region and one should know how to respond to these animals if encountered. Please see the mountain lion safety tips in the Mountain lion article.
One should avoid ground and brush contact to avoid fleas and ticks and the various diseases that they may transmit.
Mosquitos have always been somewhat hazardous in this area as they have been known to carry western equine encephalitis, caused by a virus dangerous to humans. With the recent spread into the counties around Mount Diablo of the recently introduced West Nile virus, mosquitos are now far more hazardous, as this debilitating and frequently fatal disease is carried by (and can be fatal to) bird populations. Mosquitos are particularly active for about two hours after sunset and can be present in large numbers near creeks and during spring and fall wet seasons and after the rare summer rainfalls. Insect repellant containing the chemical DEET is recommended.
Facilities
Image:MtDiabloSummit.jpg Gatehouses are located at the end of Northgate Road (in Walnut Creek and Diablo Road (in Danville). The Danville entrance is also known as Southgate. If the gatehouses 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 an observation building with a visitor's center with natural history exhibits (presently closed due to California's budget constraints, but the roof viewpont remains accessible). 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. There is also a restroom here and at the summit.
From the elevation of the lower lot there is also a level wheelchair-accessible trail with interpretive stations that extends part way around the mountain. There are numerous hiking trails and some paths available for mountain biking and horse riding.
Camping facilities are available within the park. 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.
Events
On December 7 of each year the aircraft beacon atop the summit building is illuminated from sunset to dawn. 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 present. The public is welcome and visitors on this day should enter the park before 4:30 PM. 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. 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.
'Save Mount Diablo' sponsors spring and fall schedules of events on the mountain, Spring on Diablo and Autumn on Diablo, as well as many other special events such as its anniversary event Moonlight on the Mountain; Four Days Diablo, a trip on the Diablo Trail; the Mt. Diablo Challenge, a 1000 cyclist hill climb to the summit; and the Mt. Diablo Trail Adventure, combined 10k and half-marathon hikes and runs.
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.
External links
- Template:Geolinks-US-hoodscale
- 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. Diablo
- Mt. Diablo Interpretative Association, a non-profit organization working to help the public enjoy the Mount Diablo park
- Mount Diablo Observatory Association
- 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.
References
- Information from the California State Parks leaflet on Mount Diablo State Park, issue 8/01, 2000.
- sfgate.com article