Climbing at Mt. Diablo

View from summit of Mt. Diablo toward the south (Livermore). Yes, it really was that green. (Photo taken in April.)

Cindy Shellito posing with Butt Crack (5.2) in the background. My, how flattering.

Mt. Diablo State Park is located about 45 miles southwest of Davis, not far from the infamous 680/24 interchange in Walnut Creek. Mt. Diablo is impossible to miss, standing at over 3800 ft. elevation, considerably higher than anything else within 50 miles. All the climbing though, is done well below the summit. The place we visited was called, charmingly, Butt Rock.

Mt. Diablo rock, at least the stuff we encountered in Rock City, was gritty sandstone. I had never before climbed on the stuff, and found it tricky at times but generally easy on the fingers. Butt Crack, pictured above, was my first free solo. Of course, it's just a chimney squeeze all the way, and pretty safe, but it was annoyingly strenuous and uncomfortable.

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