Mt. Diablo, a winter retrospective

[exwingnut]

Mt Diablo has always been one of my favorite places to visit. Its unique and diverse habitats make it a interesting place to visit and learn about; the views of the bay area at night when you camp up in Juniper Campground are magnificent; and, oh yeah, they have a road that goes to the top by winding for 11 miles up to the top...it is my "keep your skills up" ride of choice! Not because it is fast...it is rather the opposite due to the condition of the surface in the upper section and the construction of the road on the bottom as the road is very twisty and has lots of 'no site line' turns...as it follows the contour of the mountain, it turns back on itself alot and, with the elevation change, there are lots of challenging corners.

Cool!

But, I digress. I went up North Gate Rd with the expressed intent of doing some photography on Mt Diablo in the spring and in color (I have done B&W exclusively for years.) Spring is an interesting time on the mountain, the waterfalls run, the creeks gurgle, the grass is the most vivid color of green and it glows thru the branches of the bare trees.







All seasons of the year are nice on Diablo, but the with the ageing winter turning to a new spring it is a great time to ride up here.



Later, a little farther up the mountan...



We find one of my favorite spots to sit and ponder the universe. It is a small knoll off to the south side of the peak. From here, you can see all of the lower hills and the Danville valley; the entire bay; the south face of Diablo itself, all the way to Hamilton and, on a clear winter for spring day, the snow on the Sierra's...







All in all, it was a very fitting end to a glorious day...









Let me know if you decide to explore the mountain...I am most always up for a ride here.

Enjoy.

Steve

[motorrad]

Steve,

Nice pics Is this a similar run to Mt Hamilton and Del Puerto Canyon over to I-5 at Patterson? I'd be up for this, just trying to remember exactly where Diablo is. Thinking it might be north of S.F. or Santa Cruz, but not sure.

I still need to buff out the scrap on my front fender (beeck) from a get off last year. Want to sand the fiberglass smooth and then spray paint it flat black. Kenny (aka Chief) has the sanding kit, the know how, and he's in Patterson. Is this ride nearby, or is my geography lacking? Kenny, you still out there?

Sounds like a cool ride. I'm all in if free the day this is planned.

[exwingnut]

Tom

Sorry about the scuffing and painting (is the root word for 'paint', pain?)...I chose to call them 'character marks' and look the other way.

Diablo has two entrances, one in Walnut Creek and one in Danville on Hwy 680the closest Fwy intersection is 680 and 24.

Patterson is south and east and is where Del Puerto Canyon comes out to Hwy 5. I am about 45 minutes as the BMW flies from there on a very cool road called Marsh Creek Rd., which goes right pst Morgan Territory road as well.

Let me know if you want to come ride some of the roads north of here. The hills around Berryessa, Skaggs Springs Road out to Hwy 1, the Delta and the Foothills are available for day riding from Concord.

You too Gail!

Steve

[motorrad]

Originally Posted by exwingnut

Tom

Sorry about the scuffing and painting (is the root word for 'paint', pain?)...I chose to call them 'character marks' and look the other way.
Steve

Steve, I like my battle scar too

Want to keep it, but thinking of a cool, easy mend as well. Emory rub and nice spray paint might look rad on the BMW beeck. Another Mt. Diablo run sounds like fun, so please keep me posted. Future runs further south in my neck of the woods also are game come March. Let's keep in touch and plan some rides, preferable for me over the weekends. Ciao

[Backmarker]

Steve, one word for these photos. Stunning! Not a bad one in the bunch.

We went from Livermore in and up the back way and down into Danville. Quite the experience. And it since it was July, it was no where near this picturesque. This makes my memory way better than the actual trip. Thanks! There's a couple of keepers here.

[Eifelrider]

Excellent photos, Steve!!

[motowriter]

Excellent shots, Steve! Yet another place to add to the must-ride list. The greens are just starting to brighten, so we'll be enjoying this for another month or two. Love the sunset shots. Thanks for sharing the ride!

[z_bassman]

All the times I've been up in that area over the decades, and I've never been to the top. Great photos.

[pashnit]

Originally Posted by motorrad

I'd be up for this, just trying to remember exactly where Diablo is. Thinking it might be north of S.F. or Santa Cruz, but not sure.

Tom - Mt Diablo is a great must-do ride, like it even better than the climb up Mt Hamilton to the southwest. This is the best time of year to do this ride- so incredibly green right now! Wait one day after any rain storm and it will be so clear, it's said you might even be able to make out Mt Shasta to the north, and the snow capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada to the east!!

[pashnit]

(There are hundreds of these type maps on the CA Moto Roads site)