Mount Diablo by way of Mitchell Canyon

The last time my wife and I set a day to do this hike it was 104 degrees so we cancelled. Today it started at around 60 degrees and stayed cool the entire time.  I honestly don’t think it got warmer than 70 degrees.   It felt great to be out there but it was a difficult climb for me as I had a physically tough week at work. My wife didn’t seem phased by the climb.  The clouds(fog?) were thick and  low most of the morning. In the afternoon it cleared up but the cool breeze remained.  Most of the hike is on very well maintained fire road.   The last mile or two up to the summit were single track  trails or regular wider trails not used by vehicles.  Along the way we met a really nice older gentleman who was training for high altitude hiking.  He said he was training to fulfill his auntie’s dying wish to have her ashes spread somewhere in the Tahoe mountains (Desolation Wilderness?).  The views from the summit with the thick clouds/fog far below reminds me a lot of the views from Haleakala in Maui where I grew up.