Black Diamond Mines: Mine Tour and Hike
Leader: Sam Kaufman
Leader Email: geogrman@yahoo.com
Leader Phone: 510-599-4056
Meeting Date and Day: Saturday, Mar 23 2019
Meeting Time: 9:30 AM
Departure Time:9:45 AM
Meeting Place: Under the Safeway Sign on Market at Dolores
Rating : Level-3
Mileage: 5.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 1000
Description: This outing consists of a mine tour followed by a hike The tour encompasses the fascinating Hazel Atlas Silica Mine and begin at 11am. Those wanting to skip this can meet us at the Greathouse Visitor Center at 12:15pm when the tour will be completed for the hike only. Please bring a jacket for the toru as the temperature is around 50 underground. The hike will ascend the ridge behind the mine and dip into the Sand Creek valley via Miners Trail to the Stewartsville town site We will return via the Corcoran Min, Ridge, Carbondale, Saddle, and River View Trails Early wildflowers should be out and as there is little tree cover,
Bring/Wear: sturdy hiking boots, lunch,water, hat (there is little tree cover) and a jacket for the tour.
Rain Policy:The Hike portion will be cancelled with heavy or moderate rain
Driving Distance: 95 miles total there and back
Total Bridge Tolls and Entry Fees: $6 Bay Bridge toll on return, $5 park entrance fee and $5 mine tour fee
Passenger Carpool Fee: $15 (not including $5 tour fee)
Alternative Meeting Place: Black Diamond Mine Regional Park, parking lot at the end of the road. We need to be at the Greathouse Visitor Center by 10:45am. Directions from SF: take I-80 East across the bridge to I-580 East toward CA 24 to Walnut Creek (thru the Caldecott Tunnel) Use left lanes to transition to I-680 North toward Concord. After 4 miles, keep right at the fork to CA 242 N Continue for three miles. Then use left three lanes taking CA-4 East toward Pittsburg. Take Exit 26 (AutoMall/Somersville Rd). Turn right at off ramp and follow Somersville Rd. approx 3.5 miles to end of road and the park.
Google Maps Link: https://goo.gl/maps/wEe2AyMdWEB2
Alternative Meeting Time: 10:45 AM
Alternative Meeting Departure Time:11:00 AM
Level-1
|
Level-2
|
Level-3 |
Level-4 |
Level-5 |
| easiest |
moderately easy
|
moderate
|
strenuous
|
very strenuous |
