This hike was supposed to happen a day earlier, but for whatever reason I could not get motivated the previous morning to do it. It was likely going to be a climb up to the main summit climb the Summit Trail.

The next morning, I found myself wanting to do a hike. But since it was supposed to reach the 100s that day, I decided just to do a shorter Mt Olympia and possibly continue to North Peak.

Starting from March Creek Road, I made my way up Mt Olympia’s east ridge. A steep, but rewarding hike. Feeling pretty good, I continued along the ridge line to North Peak. A quick hop over, but the last few hundred feet were one of the most steepest trails in the park over some very loose gravel.

From there I could return to Marsh Creak Road from North Peak or return to Mt Olympia and retrace my steps back to my Jeep.

But it was still early morning and the temperature didn’t seem that bad (the sun was mostly hidden by clouds at that point).

With the main summit only about an hour and a half away, I could make it there before noon. So I headed over to the main summit. Unfortunately, that meant descending 500 feet, then re-climbing up about 900 feet. That’s the kind of hiking I really dislike. 🙂

But I made it and enjoyed the view and set foot on the proper summit. One thing that motivated me to continue to the main summit is they have a gift store were I could get a cold Coke, restock with another Gatorade, and be tempted by an ice cream sandwich. With the temperature dancing with the triple digits, temptation won. 🙂

On my way down, I spotted a very small snake curled up on the road. After making sure it wasn’t a rattlesnake, I looked closer and it seemed to be injured. Obviously a young Gopher Snake (non-poisonous) with a small red wound sticking out of it’s side. While it was unlikely to survive, I couldn’t leave it in the middle of the road.

So I used my trekking poles to get it to the side of the road and hoped it would not go back out on the road, where it would likely be flattened by a car or bike.

Then it was back down the back side of the summit where I would have to decide how to get back to my Jeep. I had resisted taking an Uber/Lyft from the summit. As I approached the junction where I’d have to decide, I did the most illogical thing:

I decided to do all 5 peaks of Mt Diablo. I’d done it several times before and had thought about doing it this year sometime, but with a cool breeze keeping the heat at bay I decided to go for it.

So I made my way across Bald Ridge up to Eagle Peak. Glorious view, but the sign post that usually was there was missing. I couldn’t even find the hole where the post used to be. That was odd, but didn’t stop me from enjoying the view.

From there, it was a quick traverse along the ridge to Twin Peaks.

Goal! The 5 peaks of Mt Diablo!! Of course, since the last peak is “Twin” Peaks, shouldn’t that be 6 peaks of Mt Diablo? 🙂

Speaking of the 6th peak… every Mt Diablo guide always list the 5 peaks I just did as the 5 peaks. But I had met some hikers once that insisted that Black Point was actually the 5th peak.

I was tempted to go over and do it so I could say I did the *6* peaks of Mt Diablo. But while I had time, it would add at least 4 miles to my already long hike and I decided that doing Black Point with those other 5 peaks would have to wait. It didn’t help that it was not directly connected to any of the ridge lines’ of the other peaks and would require a significant decent and re-climb.

So then I had to decide how to get back to my Jeep. I decided to go out the Regency Gate. It would still be 3 miles along the road to get back to my Jeep. If I had stayed in the park, it would have been at least 4 miles and require another climb and descent that I did not want to do at that point.

So I cheated and took a Lyft back to my Jeep. 🙂

So 13 miles of hiking with my own two feet in about 10 hours. Actually faster than the last time I did the 5 peaks, so there’s that victory.

Mt Diablo 5 Peaks. Goal!!