Mount Diablo One Way Summit Assault
(No, not downhill that’s a little too easy)

    ** Or **

We’re Gonna Shed Some Pounds BEFORE Thanksgiving Hike

November 23, 2019

DIFFICULTY:    Strenuous

HIKE DISTANCE:   5 ½ miles with 3,454 feet of elevation gain.

GENERAL LOCATION:   Mount Diablo State Park in Clayton.  Access from the Regency Drive gate.  No park fees required at this entrance. 

DESCRIPTION:   We will march our retired (and tired when we are done) selves straight up the shortest and most direct route to the summit.  Interestingly, right when our legs start feeling like gelatinous goo we hit a short downhill stretch in two different places!  Back Creek Trail below Eagle Peak will be our primary trail up to Murchio Gap then over to Prospector Trail to the summit.  All of the trails are well maintained single path where bicycles are not allowed.  We can spend as much time as we want enjoying the summit visitor center and observation deck. 

WHY HIKE MOUNT DIABLO IN NOVEMBER?     #1: Because it’s there!   #2: The snakes are asleep.  #3: It’s 16.7 miles from Mac’s Old House Restaurant in Antioch (a Dennis Ratay favorite).  #4: It’s not a hundred degrees outside.  #5: We gotta lose some pounds before Thanksgiving. 

ONE WAY HIKE STRATEGERY:   Up to three hikers:  Mike snoozes in his campervan at the summit on Friday night.  Chris will meet the hikers at Orchard Creek and coordinate the drive to Regency Drive.  Mike hikes down to Regency drive and meets the group.  After the hike all five of us ride back to Regency Drive in the campervan.  Up to eight hikers:  Mike and Chris drive the campervan and a Honda CRV to the summit Friday night and snooze in the van.  We solicit a volunteer to meet the hikers at Orchard Creek and coordinate the drive to Regency Drive.  Chris and Mike hike down to Regency Drive and meet the group.  After the hike all ten of us get back to Regency Drive in the campervan and SUV.  Nine or more hikers:  All hikers are welcome; we need to arrange the appropriate number of support vehicles at the summit.  Anybody wanting to grab a campsite Friday night and hike both ways are more than welcome. 

** Please call Mike at 916 644 0508 to reserve a seat for the ride back to Regency Drive. **

TRAVEL TIME / DISTANCE:   2  hours  /  107 miles.  Suggested driver donation:  $18.00.
Dinner at Mac’s Old House (opens at 4:00 PM) in Antioch is a great way to complete the outing.   
If you skip the dinner, return time to Lincoln should be around 6 – 7 PM. 

HIKE LEADER / SWEEP:   Mike Nusink / Chris Wefers

FACILITIES AVAILABLE:   No restrooms at Regency Drive.  Flush toilets and fresh water at the summit.  There are public restrooms at the Clayton Dog Park located at 7411 Marsh Creek Road which is very close to Regency Drive. 

PREPARATIONS FOR THE HIKE:   Assess your endurance level – these will be hard yards. 

1)            Bring a copy of your ID (driver’s license), health card, and emergency contact name and number with you when you hike

2)       If you have any health issues, please consider your condition before hiking.

3)        Always bring an extra pair of shoes along with a plastic bag to store your hiking boots     after the hike.  

4)        Bring a snack or lunch, if you wish, and water.

5)        Trekking poles would make life simpler on this hike. 

6)        If you were to bring the hike leader and sweep a Snickers Almond Bar it may increase the possibility that they will make it to the summit. 

RISKS:   Not many.  The trails are established and well maintained.  If they are dry we’ll have  the little BB sized pebbles making footing slippery. 

QUESTIONS:   Contact Mike Nusink at 916 644 0508. 

MEETING TIME:  7:00 AM at Orchard Creek parking lot in the far corner near Orchard Creek Fitness Center.  We leave at 7:15 AM.

DRIVING DIRECTIONS