Mt. Diablo OR

 

A contingent of Troop 259 marched to the top and back of Mt. Diablo from their base camp in October 2007.  With an early start,  six Scouts and 4 adults started from Sacramento on Saturday, October 20.  Arriving at base camp (Buckeye Campground), the temperature was cool in the shade and warm in the sun.  Starting from the campground, the hike up was steady and always up until the summit.  The southern exposure made for a nice hike and would have been too hot in the summer.  The trail went through Bay and Oak forest and coastal grasslands. At the summit, everyone ate sandwiches inside the observation room, since there was a slight wind and the temperature at the top was cooler than on the trail.  The view from the top was very impressive, even with the humidity in the air from recent rains.  We could see After lunch, the group watched an educational video on the natural and cultural history of the Park.  The trip down was much faster to the campground.  

In camp, tents, the cooking area, and a wood splitting station were set up.  The scouts cooked and cleaned the dinner and breakfast for the whole crew, adults assisting and guiding where necessary and as part of the team.  Free time was spent around the fire or by tossing acorns.  A fierce wind picked up during the night and slowly subsided upon sunrise.  The tents fluttered but held steady during gusts that could be heard coming up the mountain well before hitting the tree canopy above the campsite.  On Sunday, the scouts broke down the camp, policed the campground and headed back to Sacramento.  Overall, the hike and camp out was a success, leaving the scouts refreshed by this break from their routines at home and the adults feeling exercised from the hike.