A Beautiful Evening to Remember by Michael Marchiano, Naturalist On a Friday in July July 10, 1998 Black Point at Sunset • Ray Mengel As the sun set and a light wind blew through the valley oaks, five of us gathered in the Mitchell Canyon parking lot for a leisurely evening hike. We were greeted by the sounds of field crickets as we crossed the gate. We headed up Mitchell Canyon Road observing and listening to the last birds of the day heading for roosting spots or singing their night-time serenade. An acorn woodpecker was tapping away at the top of one of the “pantry” trees, juncos and a titmouse flitted among the branches of live oaks, blue oaks, and gray pines. Starlings were finishing an insect meal at the top of another snag. A black-headed grosbeak was singing its heart out in one of the oaks, and a turkey vulture soared overhead as many springtime insects buzzed through the air. Most of the spring wildflowers along the trail had disappeared. The wild oat grasses had turned golden in the evening light. The most alluring late spring flowers were the delicate white “lilies” of the wavyleaf soap plant. These appeared to dance on the end of their thread-like stems. In the shaded areas were remnants of elegant clarkia flowers, and Ithuriel’s spear still bloomed among the grasses. What creatures would we see or hear as the sunlight dimmed and the sky darkened? This question would only be answered by what lay ahead of us. As we continued our twilight hike, we turned at the intersection of Mitchell Canyon Road and Black Point Trail and then turned onto Globe Lily Trail. Along the chaparral section of the trail, chemise was in full white bloom, and the pale pink-colored mallow with its light gray-green leaves and stems dotted our way. The trail itself was coming alive with harvester ants, picking up tiny seeds and carrying them into their underground burrows. Along the trail, we found numerous tarantula burrows. As we peered into them using our flashlights, we could see the velvety spider sitting at the entrance of its home waiting for that unsuspecting prey to wander by and become an evening meal. We reached Red Road and, in the dim glow of the darkening sky, bats could be seen swooping overhead, soaring and turning and chasing the hundreds of flying moths, mosquitoes, gnats, lacewings, and other airborne arthropods. Many species of bats inhabit the canyons of Mount Diablo, all of them insectivores. In flight, it is all but impossible to tell one species from another, but at least one of the bats was twice the size of the others, and we believed it to be a big brown bat, one of the largest bats in our area. As the night darkened, I took out a small black light flashlight and shined it into a pile of downed tree branches. There scurrying among the debris was a small scorpion, glowing in the ultraviolet rays. Another tiny night hunter was on the prowl. The pathways were also littered with Eleodes beetles, those slow-moving black stink beetles that point their tail ends up in the air whenever they feel threatened. As we left Red Road and returned to Mitchell Canyon Road to head back, we picked up the bight shining eyes of two other night-time wanderers. Although we could not make out the creatures (except for the eyes, and they disappeared into the heavy brush immediately), we believe the first was a coyote and the second a deer. One more time on the way back I took out my black light as we neared a rocky outcrop, and again we were all pleasantly surprised with at least a half-dozen scorpions glowing among the rocks. On our final approach to the visitor center, we had the pleasure of seeing a western toad hop across our path and a large Jerusalem cricket (potato bug) run in circles on the path after we shined our light on it. Many wonderful sights greeted us on this night-time hike, and yet many we expected eluded us. We did not hear the coyotes howl; we did not hear or see an owl; poorwills did not call; glow worms were not seen; and no snakes were slithering about. Chorus frogs were not heard, and no bobcats were seen. Who knows what will await us next time… Only by completing the adventure will we unlock a tiny bit of Mother Nature’s treasures. We hope to see some new adventures on our next night hike! BACK TO LIST

Wildflower Mount Diablo California Angelica Scientific Name: Angelica californica Family: Apiaceae (Parsley-Carrot Family) Blooms: Jun-Jul Color: White Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants

Mylitta Crescent Phyciodes mylitta Nymphalidae Brushfoots Flies January to November Host Plant Thistle Nectar Plant Michael Marchiano Female Daniel Fitzgerald Male Daniel Fitzgerald Underwing

Wildflower Mount Diablo Ithuriel's Spear Scientific Name: Triteleia laxa Family: Themidaceae (Brodiaea Family) Blooms: Apr - May Color: Blue-Purple Perennial herb Native, endemic to California Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Daniel Fitzgerald Mike Woodring

Wildflower Mount Diablo Milkmaids, Tooth Wort Scientific Name: Cardamine californica Family: Brassicaceae (Mustard Family) Blooms: Jan - Apr Color: White Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Kevin Hintsa

I Hiked Them All by Stephen Smith, MDIA President Reprinted from Mount Diablo Review, Spring/Summer 2018 July 1, 2023 Stephen Smith Hiking is my passion. It sustains me, brings peace, provides adventure and satiates the explorer within. Hiking has been a part of me for most of my life, and so too has Mount Diablo. It wasn’t until 2016 that I began to really devote my free time to this hobby which quite literally has its ups and downs. Exploring the trails has informed how I see myself and the world around me, and has brought me infinite joy and reward along the way. I purchased my first Trail Map of Mount Diablo State Park from the visitor center and studied it, learning how the network of trails interconnected. Then I saw it: hanging on the wall of the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center was a t-shirt that had the map of the mountain on it and the words “Hike Them All” emblazoned across the bottom. One of the volunteer docents explained to me that there is an elite group of hikers who endeavor to hike every trail in the park and upon completion purchase the shirt and alter it to read “I Hiked Them All”. I was sold on the idea, but I would have to wait to be sold the actual shirt. How hard could it be? The first clue was in discovering that there are 162 miles of hiking trails in the park! So I developed a game plan. I would complete the challenge in one calendar year, I would hike every trail and utility road listed on the official park map, I would not trespass onto any private property without permission, and I would keep track of my progress along the way. Beginning in January 2016, I set off on the first of many outings, covering 8 miles and 1,800 feet of elevation that first day. When I got home, I got out my map and a pink highlighter and retraced my steps. It would become a much anticipated ritual following each hike, highlighting the trails I had completed and planning the route for the next adventure. A couple of months into my quest, I learned from some hiking companions that there was a Volunteers in Parks Program (VIPP) on the mountain. I completed a half-day training session and began volunteering as a backcountry docent, armed with a vest and the knowledge necessary to help out any lost or troubled hikers. I started encountering hundreds of other volunteers along the way. There were groups removing barbed wire and other debris as part of the Trash Removal Project (TRP). I ran into a large group of red-shirted volunteers who were part of the Trail Crew and learned that they maintained our trails twice a month. A small group who were handy with tools called the Maintenance Volunteer Group (MVG) was fixing some of the aging buildings and picnic areas. Still more were staffing the Mitchell Canyon Visitor Center as docents, while others were out leading nature hikes for the public. The list went on and on, and I was enamored by their conviction, passion and devotion to this state park. All the while, my journey continued. It would take over 450 miles of hiking in order to cross off the vast network of trails in the park. I once hiked 17 miles just to cross off a remote 0.1 mile long trail at Windy Point. My well-worn map was soon covered in pink highlighter. Equally well-worn were my hiking boots, yet my mind and spirit were energized and invigorated. I had met so many wonderful people along the way and reignited a love affair I have had with this mountain my entire life. My final trail was Castle Rock Trail, and in September 2016 I was joined by 40 fellow hikers who shared in a milestone I will not soon forget. I was so entranced by being a part of the mountain that I wanted to become more involved in the interpretive side of the park and joined the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in its mission of Preservation through Education. I write to you proudly as MDIA’s Board President. You certainly don’t need to set out on a journey like mine in order to appreciate the sheer beauty of Mount Diablo. There are trails here for every hiker, casual or experienced. A great companion to our park map is the Hiker’s Guide to Mount Diablo, available in our visitor centers and online for $15. It has 50 spectacular hikes to embark on, from the 0.7 mile Mary Bowerman loop all the way up to our 26.2 mile (and 6,948 foot) Mount Diablo Marathon hike, and everything in between. It has route maps, elevation plots, descriptions of natural and cultural history as well as photographs of the scenery. I urge you to get out on the trails today, as this time of year is spectacular with wildflowers and waterfalls to behold. Check out our website at mdia.org where we feature some of our premier hikes that you can print out and take along with you. Or download our Audible Mount Diablo guides and take an audio tour of the mountain as you hike along the trail. And if you want to join the elite group who has hiked every trail, get out your highlighter and set your sights on that commemorative t-shirt! Steve on his completion of hiking all trails. Diablo and North Peak | by Stephen Smith Foxtails are a good reason to stay on the trail. Back country section of Red Road Poppies | by Stephen Smith North Peak | by Stephen Smith Summit Building | by Stephen Smith BACK TO LIST

Wildflower Mount Diablo Tree Anemone, Bush Anemone Scientific Name: Carpenteria californica Family: Hydrangeaceae (Hydrangea Family) Blooms: May - Aug Color: White Shrub Native, endemic to California California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.2 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA and elsewhere). This plant is rare in Mount Diablo State Park. See full list Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Mike Woodring

Wildflower Mount Diablo Mount Diablo Buckwheat Scientific Name: Eriogonum truncatum Family: Polygonaceae (Buckwheat Family) Blooms: Color: Red-Pink Annual herb Native Mount Diablo buckwheat, with its characteristic branched flowers, grows along the edges of chaparral, in areas that have been partly cleared of grass by rabbits. Thought to be extinct for several decades, this plant has resurfaced in limited distribution. Read more California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.1 (rare, threatened, or endangered in CA and elsewhere ). This plant is rare in Mount Diablo State Park. See full list Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Scott Hein

Tree Swallow Swallows and Larks Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Summer Swallows and Larks Daniel Fitzgerald Similar to the Violet-green Swallow except that white on cheeks is confined to below the eye. It is blue-green above and white below.

Black-headed Grosbeak Cardinals, Buntings, and Allies Black-headed Grosbeak Pheucticus melanocephalus Summer Cardinals, Buntings, and Allies Daniel Fitzgerald Daniel Fitzgerald Found in deciduous, riparian, and pine-oak forests and woodlands; also frequents scrub oak habitats. Combination of black and cinnamon-orange colors on male are distinctive; note black wings with white markings, which are often flashed in flight. Combination of large beak and striped head pattern is diagnostic of the female. Listen for the sharp, 'eek' call note, which betrays the bird's presence long before it is seen. Nests in trees or shrubs. Nest is a cup-shaped structure built mostly from small roots and twigs. Feeds on insects, spiders, fruit and seeds.

Migrating Calliope Hummingbird Selasphorus calliope Hammond's Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii Hermit Warbler Setophaga occidentalis Nashville Warbler Oreothlypis ruficapilla Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus

Wildflower Mount Diablo Broadleaf Stonecrop Scientific Name: Sedum spathulifolium Family: Crassulaceae (Stonecrop Family) Blooms: May Color: Yellow-Orange Perennial herb Native Jump to Blooming Now Blue / Purple Red / Pink White Yellow / Orange Invasive Plants Steven Beatty