Mount Diablo stands as an isolated, 3,849-foot (1,173 m) landmark, visible from much of the San Francisco Bay Area. On the day I made my trip to the summit, the view was impressive, although distant landmarks, such as Mt. Lassen, in the Cascade Mountains, and Half Dome, in Yosemite, were not visible.

I'm not sure why some humans - myself among them on occasion - enjoy "conquering" the summits of important mountains. I'm a little sorry, too, that a paved road winds its way to the top of Mt. Diablo. While the old visitor center on the summit is impressive, it would not be so without the accompanying view.

Considered, like many imposing mountains, to be a sacred place, Mt. Diablo has served in Native America mythology as a seat of creation. Perhaps making the journey in my little pick-up truck (with my pbase friend - Rosemarie ), rather than on foot or on my bike, made for a more mundane visit. Certainly I enjoyed the view, which here looks south, into the Livermore Valley in the far distance.