Not gonna lie, it was a steep climb and it was tough to carry on a conversation while hiking up to the peak. The trail was popular. Lots of people all ages and lots with dogs (and even a cat in a front pack!) It was a windy day and the higher we got, the more wind we had. At the top of the peak the wind was bitter cold; my ears hurt and my fingers felt like little ice sickles (note to self-always keep a pair of gloves in my pack).  It was very crowded at the top with 20-30 people in line to take their pictures atop the pole. We skipped that part.

Views were spectacular!  Mt. Diablo and Mt. Tam were clearly visible. We could also see the snow covered southern Sierras. Spring is a great time for this hike, as the hills are green and you don’t have to worry about the lack of shade.