The two Dans will take you on a walk along the highest trail on Mount Diablo, highlighting some of the insects like bees, dragonflies and butterflies, unusual plants, and a few birds that they have photographed along this 3/4-mile loop which circumnavigates the summit. Learn about the fabulous Mary Bowerman, who inspired the naming of this popular trail. Along this trail, because of the elevation, flowers bloom later than at lower parts of the mountain, providing insects with nectar later into the summer. The soils, elevation, and isolation of the peak impact the variety of flora and fauna found here, contributing to some of the rarities that can be seen. The summit and the trail lie entirely within early Franciscan Complex geologic rocks – greywacke, chert, greenstone, and mélange. Come along on this photo-filled exploration led by two local naturalists!

Dan Fitzgerald grew up in Concord with a view of the mountain and spent time exploring it. After retirement he became a state park volunteer active in environmental cleanup and as a docent in our visitor center and out on the trail. He is a California Naturalist and leads nature hikes for MDIA where he serves as Treasurer and a board director since 2016.

Dan Sandri has lived in the East Bay nearly all of his life, and the mountain has always been his favorite hiking place. With a B. S. degree in Entomology he enjoys observing and photographing insects, birds, reptiles, as well as other plant and animal life. Upon retirement, Dan became a volunteer visitor center docent, a member of the Native Plant Garden team, and a back-country rover. He is a California Naturalist and leads nature hikes for MIDA where he serves as Secretary and a board director since 2020.