What delight to move! And delight to try to climb Diablo twice in a weekend.
And delight, even, to fail the second attempt. I have been beating the hell out of my poor feet these past months, and they finally responded, above Deer Flat on Mount Diablo, with that sharp rubbing whine that says “loosening, inflamed skin.” And I want to run this week, and blisters will cramp that style, so I turned back. The new shoes need broken in, it seems.
Still, eight and a half miles walked and 1,960 feet ascended. (180 and 39,000 for the year so far.) And here’s the thing: Turning around kept me off the high ridge when the storm settled over the mountain and a couple pale electric bolts struck the radio antennae. Instead, I ambled happily downhill through drizzle then downpour then drench, warm and comfortable if admittedly un-dry. Calochortus superbus opened up sometime Saturday on the switchbacks below Deer Flat, cream-colored flowers marked with deep burgundy. The photo shows yellow markings: I did not see yellow in these blossoms.
Despite not making the summit, today’s hike was an accomplishment of sorts. The switchbacks at the head of Mitchell Canyon, a thousand feet of climb in a mile and a quarter, usually make me stop and gasp. Today I climbed without stopping, passing everyone I met. It was hard work: I breathed harder than I do when running. But I felt no need to stop until Deer Flat, and then only because I was hungry.
Delight.
Posted by: Chris Clarke
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