Geological puzzlements: If rocks usually pile up, layer by layer, over time, why are MOUNT DIABLO's oldest layers on top? A geological tour of the Mary Bowerman Loop presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. Featuring Ken Lavin. Photos by Scott Hein and others. Music by Phil Heywood. Production by Joan Hamilton.
On a hot summer day, minimize your mileage by hiking this gentle but spectacular loop around Mount Diablo's summit. A geology tour presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. Featuring Ken Lavin. Music by Phil Heywood. Photos by Scott Hein and others. Production by Joan Hamilton.
Hear the story of MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK’s devilish dedication ceremony in 1931. This tour of ROCK CITY is presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. Featuring Ken Lavin. Music: Phil Heywood. Production, Narration: Joan Hamilton; Photos: Seth Adams, Contra Costa Historical Society, Joan Hamilton.
Who was DAN COOK? A successful miner from Bodie who owned a big chunk of Mount Diablo in the late 1870s and early 1880s. His history connects with that of California’s Big Four Railroad Barons and Robert Noble Burgess, who, much later, built North and South Gate roads. This tour of Mount Diablo's ROCK CITY is presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. Featuring Ken Lavin, Rich McDrew, and Mike Woodring; Music: Phil Heywood; Production, Narration: Joan Hamilton. Photos: Contra Costa Hist...
Starting at "ELEPHANT ROCK," learn the history of tourism in MOUNT DIABLO STATE PARK. In the rock itself, find evidence of a story many millions of years older. This tour of Mount Diablo's ROCK CITY is presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. Featuring Ken Lavin, Rich McDrew, and Mike Woodring; Music: Phil Heywood; Production, Narration: Joan Hamilton; Photos: Contra Costa Historical Society, Joan Hamilton.
Stoves built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s proved so popular they were used throughout the state and national park system. Today volunteers are restoring them for another century of outdoor grilling. This episode of Mount Diablo's ROCK CITY tour is presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. Featuring Ken Lavin. Music: Phil Heywood; Production, Narration: Joan Hamilton; Photos: Joan Hamilton, Conrad Lowry, Mark Sinclair; Special thanks to Anastasia Hobbet, Conrad Lowry,...
The sandstone In Rock City is made from weathered bits of Sierra Nevada granite. Ken Lavin explains how those mountains moved—and helps us recognize the constituent parts, including quartz, feldspar, biotite and hornblende. This tour of Mount Diablo's ROCK CITY is presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. Featuring Ken Lavin, Rich McDrew, and Mike Woodring; Music: Phil Heywood; Production, Narration: Joan Hamilton; Photos: Seth Adams, Contra Costa Historical Society, Joan Hamilton, Moo...
Enjoy a 1.6-mile walk exploring the history, geology, and plants of one of the most popular places in Mount Diablo State Park. Featuring Ken Lavin, Rich McDrew, and Mike Woodring; Music: Phil Heywood; Production, Narration: Joan Hamilton; Photos: Seth Adams, Contra Costa Historical Society, Joan Hamilton, Moose Henderson, Ken Lavin, Conrad Lowry, Mark Sinclair; Special thanks to Anastasia Hobbet, Conrad Lowry, Jennifer Roe, Jerry Schweickert, Mark Sinclair, Stephen Smith. A GPS-enabled map for t...
CONNOLLY RANCH We came to this 9,000-acre ranch to report on the effects of the 400,000-acre SCU Lightning Complex Fire. But as we toured the blackened hillsides, an even more dramatic story emerged: about the remarkable family that’s been tending and defending this land for five generations. Presented by Save Mount Diablo, 2021. Featuring Mark Connolly, Celeste Garamendi, Ted Clement. Photos by Scott Hein, Connolly Ranch. Video: Connolly Ranch, Cooper Ogden. Music: Phil Heywood. Narration, Prod...
We're re-publishing this episode of our "Plants of Twin Peaks" series in honor of Frank Valle-Riestra, who passed away in April at age 95. Frank loved Mount Diablo State Park and helped found the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. In this 2013 recording, he discusses Eagle Peak, Aeolian harps, and the charm of chaparral. Presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo.
Learn about two MOUNT DIABLO PINES—and the men who studied them by shooting down their cones with rifles. It's the last installment of our guide to MITCHELL CANYON, presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. First published in 2012, revised in 2017. Music from Banks of the River by Phil Heywood. Photos by Scott Hein (and others mentioned in closing credits) Narration and production by Joan Hamilton.
THE GREAT FIRE OF 1977 After the flames died down, people took up a collection to replant the blackened slopes with Monterey pines. Only one problem: Monterey pines don't grow on Mount Diablo! Learn about the fight that ensued, in the 12th segment of our guide to Mitchell Canyon, presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. First published in 2012, revised in 2017. Music from Banks of the River by Phil Heywood. Photos by Scott Hein (and others mention...
TWO TREES AND AN INSECT Quiz time: 1. Can you name a common California tree that has a huge, poisonous seed that looks like a deer's eye? 2. How about a tree that contains a painkilling chemical and attracts North America's longest-lived butterfly? The answers lie in the 11th installment of our MITCHELL CANYON guide, presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. First published in 2012, revised in 2017. Music from Banks of the River by Phil Heywood. Ph...
PRIZED PLANTS It's time to search for a nodding yellow MOUNT DIABLO FAIRY LANTERN, as well as the wavy-leaved SOAP PLANT, with so many uses it's called "the grocery store plant." It's the next segment in our MITCHELL CANYON guide, presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. First published in 2012, revised in 2017. Music from Banks of the River by Phil Heywood. Photos by Scott Hein (and others mentioned in closing credits) Narration and production b...
SCENTED SHRUBS Ah the smells of spring! Learn to enjoy them in shrubs like PITCHER SAGE and CALIFORNIA SAGEBRUSH. It's part of our MITCHELL CANYON guide, presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. First published in 2012, revised in 2017. Music from Banks of the River by Phil Heywood. Photos by Scott Hein (and others mentioned in closing credits) Narration and production by Joan Hamilton.
WHEN GRIZZLIES RULED Amid today's cool breezes, think about the harsh winter of 1826–27, when a mountain man named JEDEDIAH SMITH stopped off at Mount Diablo's Mitchell Canyon. This MITCHELL CANYON guide is presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, in partnership with Save Mount Diablo.
MINING In the 1860s, men who had been "bit by the mining tarantula" searched for copper on the north side of MOUNT DIABLO. Learn what they took and what they left behind in this installment of our MITCHELL CANYON guide, presented by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association, in partnership with Save Mount Diablo.
Meet a COAST LIVE OAK that sprouted around the time the U.S. constitution was signed in 1787. Then learn about the park's kissing MISTLETOE and nuisance TURKEYS. It's the latest installment of the MITCHELL CANYON tour, presented by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. First published in 2012, revised in 2017. Music from Banks of the River by Phil Heywood. Photos by Scott Hein (and others mentioned in closing credits) Narration and production by Joan Ha...
TWO "OAKS" 1) Blue oaks are clever trees, uniquely adapted to California's dry summers. 2) Poison oak (not an oak at all) is the state's most common shrub. We all get one free exposure, and then the trouble begins . . . Part of a series about an easy stroll along a creek on Mount Diablo’s lush north side, led by Sue Donecker, Ken Lavin, Rich McDrew, Jim Mitchell, and Yulan Tong. Presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. First published in 2012, revised in 2017. Music from Banks of the ...
Meet Mary Leolin Bowerman, whose love of plants changed the course of history in the East Bay.
GROUND SQUIRRELS Did you know that ranchers once raised ground squirrels for their pelts? Did you know that ground squirrels have a sneaky strategy for eluding rattlesnakes? All that and more lies inside episode 3 of our Mitchell Canyon guide, featuring Sue Donecker, Ken Lavin, Rich McDrew, Jim Mitchell, and Yulan Tong. Presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. First published in 2012, revised in 2017 Music from Banks of the River by Phil Heywood. Photos by Scott Hein (and others menti...
Our two-mile hike gets off to a strong start with ACORN WOODPECKERS and a NATIVE PLANT GARDEN. The second episode in a series featuring Sue Donecker, Ken Lavin, Rich McDrew, Jim Mitchell, and Yulan Tong. Presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. First published in 2012, revised in 2017. Music from Banks of the River by Phil Heywood. Photos by Scott Hein (and others mentioned in closing credits) Narration and production by Joan Hamilton.
INTRODUCTION As nature wakes up after the first rains, learn more about nearby nature and history on this two-mile-long stroll on Mount Diablo’s lush north side. The ten-part tutorial is led by park docents Sue Donecker, Ken Lavin, Rich McDrew, Jim Mitchell, and Yulan Tong. Presented by Mount Diablo Interpretive Association. First published in 2012, revised in 2017. Music from Banks of the River by Phil Heywood. Photos by Scott Hein (and others mentioned in closing credits) Narration and product...
INSIGHTS FROM THE FIRE ZONE With the help of ranchers, naturalists, scientists, and land managers, this new series explores life in California’s inland Coast Range after 2020’s huge SCU fires. From Morgan Territory to Pacheco Pass, we'll visit places off the beaten track for most Bay Area people, yet deeply connected to places they already love. Want to learn where to find the region’s most spectacular post-fire wildflower displays? Wonder about the effects of climate change on the region’s plan...
The secluded meadows of ROUND VALLEY REGIONAL PRESERVE lie just a few miles south of Brentwood, California. The park has just re-opened following a 3,000-acre fire in August, so it's a great time to take a wildlife-rich walk out there! Want to learn more? Listen up . . . Sponsored by Save Mount Diablo & Thomas J. Long Foundation, 2012. Featuring Seth Adams, Robert Doyle, Scott Hein, and Brian Kruse. Music from Local Joe by Phil Heywood.
BUILDING THE TRAIL In this tour, we've visited every stop on Mount Diablo's Trail Through Time. Here, finally, is the story of how the trail was built. The TRAIL THROUGH TIME is a series of geology videos featuring naturalist Ken Lavin. Sponsored by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. Videography by Macha Rose. Animations by Tanya Atwater, UC Santa Barbara. Music by Phil Heywood. Produced by Joan Hamilton.
Andrew Lawson was first to map the San Andreas Fault. But the cantankerous UC Berkeley geologist had more than a few blind spots. It's episode 22 of the TRAIL THROUGH TIME, a series of geology videos featuring naturalist Ken Lavin. Sponsored by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. Videography by Macha Rose. Animations by Tanya Atwater, UC Santa Barbara. Music by Phil Heywood. Produced by Joan Hamilton.
A curious crew from the California Geological Survey combed California in the 1860s. They were led by scientists Josiah Whitney, William Brewer, and Clarence King. Hear their stories in episode 21 of the TRAIL THROUGH TIME, featuring naturalist Ken Lavin. Sponsored by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. Videography by Macha Rose. Animations by Tanya Atwater, UC Santa Barbara. Music by Phil Heywood. Produced by Joan Hamilton.
We travel back to a time when short-faced bears and dire wolves roamed the place we now call home. It's the conclusion of our walk on Mount Diablo's TRAIL THROUGH TIME. The series features naturalist Ken Lavin and is sponsored by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. Videography by Macha Rose. Animations by Tanya Atwater, UC Santa Barbara. Music by Phil Heywood. Produced by Joan Hamilton.
A red pebble in this sandstone tells geologists that Bay Area rivers were flowing backwards (from west to east) when the rock was formed. How can that be? Learn the history of your homeland while walking along the TRAIL THROUGH TIME, a series of geology videos featuring naturalist Ken Lavin. Sponsored by the Mount Diablo Interpretive Association in partnership with Save Mount Diablo. Videography by Macha Rose. Animations by Tanya Atwater, UC Santa Barbara. Music by Phil Heywood. Produced by Joan...
