Mt. Diablo was probably one of the most challenging hikes our group has done.  The views at the top of the peak were definitely well worth it.  Unfortunately, we chose to hike this peak on a very hot day (100+), not so smart!  We were prepared and made sure we had plenty of fuel, water and suncreen!  The 7.5 miles to the peak was challenging as some parts of the trail were technical.  Lucky for us, we are trail runners so we were able to hike this section just fine. The visitor center at the top of the peak was a welcome relief as we were able to refill with cold water, drink soda, and the best part — eat ice cream! Making our way down the mountain was just as challenging as there were a few sections that had a lot of loose sand.  Its a good thing we all had trekking poles! Don't leave home without these for this hike!  Our total round trip for this adventure was just shy of 15 miles.  It was an awesome day!