Mount Hamilton
Mount Hamilton
We set off at 6.30. The sky was beginning to lighten and it looked like it may be foggy up at Mount Hamilton. If you live in the Bay Area and have traveled on 101 you will have seen the white domes on top of the mountain range to the east.
Our route was north on 101 to Alum Rock Avenue. Once off 101 and driving past lots of small shops, we kept our eyes open for a Starbucks. We thought we would have to resort to a 7-11 because for the first few miles there was not a Starbucks sign to be seen. Eventually in Alum Rock Village we spotted the welcome sign ahead.
(Click on the images for larger versions)
The guy in front of us in the line asked for directions to Mount Hamilton. Maybe we will see him again up there.
After a refreshing coffee for Tom and a signature hot chocolate for me, we were on our way again. We turned off Alum Rock onto Highway 130 – Mount Hamilton Road – and immediately began to climb into the foothills. Before long, on our right, we had a view down into the Santa Clara Valley where a few lights still twinkled. The houses we passed became larger, some with impressive gateways with signs saying ‘No Trespassing’ and ‘No Parking’.
The road twists and turns. Sometimes we can see San Jose below us on the right. A sharp turn and the city was on our left hand side. We look up to the gently rolling hills and before long we are looking down on them.
I spotted lots of deer, mostly in groups of three, but there was one group of about 10. Tom pointed out a small group of wild turkeys just after as we passed the Joseph D Grant County Park sign. The road bisects the park and we pass several parking places where the trails begin. Another place we must explore one day.
Mount Hamilton, at over 4200 feet, is not only the highest point in the Diablo Range but also in the whole of the
Window and shadows
Bay Area. On top of Mount Hamilton is the Lick Observatory. The observatory is part of the University of California. It was built in 1888. James Lick was the wealthiest man in California when he died in 1876. He made the bulk of this money during the gold rush, not by finding gold but by selling real estate. In his will, the largest single bequest was for an astronomical observatory to be built and named after him.
There are very few places to pull over on the road. In fact at one point we passed a sign which said ‘Emergency Parking only for the next 15 Miles”. But we did pull over on a wide gravel patch so Tom could take some photos. From this spot we could see one of the observatories on top of the mountain. We still have some way to climb. While Tom snapped away I kept on writing. It is a beautiful spot. Just in front of us was a brown sign pointing to the Twin Gates Trailhead, so we must still be in the the Joseph D Grant County Park. We are surrounded by grassy slopes which are losing their summer brown and turning to winter green. There are lots of trees too which are losing there summer green and turning yellowy brown.
Last time we were on this road we nearly ran into a small group of wild pigs. There are a lot of them in these hills and they cause a lot of destruction when they root in the ground.
We pass a fire station on our right. A sign just after says ‘Mount Hamilton 7 Miles’, so still some way to go. The twists and turns became sharper. We passed another sign warning us that the road narrowed ahead and narrow it did.
Phew, we made it. What a fantastic drive though. It was quite an adventure. Even though we were only 20 miles from San Jose, it felt like we had driven half way across the country.
We parked outside the Visitors Center but there were no other cars around. The time is just 8 am and the Visitors Center was not open. The opening times are 12.30 – 5 Mondays to Fridays and from 10 – 5 on Saturdays and Sundays. The 120″ Shane reflector visitors gallery is open 10 – 5.
If you decide to visit Mount Hamilton be warned that it is usually windy up here. It is best to wear layers. Last time we visited it was unbearably windy and we could only stand being outside the car for a short period. This time, though it was still a bit windy, we were able to walk around the outside of the observatory. I don’t know exactly how many telescopes there are up here but there are quite a few separate buildings.
View from Mount Hamilton
The views all around are amazing. We could see the city of San Jose away in the distance. Over the whole valley there is a layer of early morning mist. In the far distance to the west is the Santa Cruz mountain range and to the north we can see St Bruno Mountain just to the south of San Fransisco. The city though is not visible. Maybe on a clear day it would be.
It felt as though we were on top of the world. Tom and I walked around, both of us taking photos. There are a number of domes here but it is difficult to ascertain just how many. I counted about five. Some of them are further down the hill.
There were a few interesting sights. A small bridge connecting to another building with a sign outside saying this was a dormitory building and to be quiet as there were people sleeping here both during the night and the day. The observatories are manned 24 hours a day. I spotted an interesting window on one side with a carving above it. Nearby was the Laurentine Hamilton Courtyard. I didn’t attempt to open the gate and walk inside but I could see a little garden and a bronze sculpture of a head. Presumably it is of Rev Lautentine Hamilton after whom Mount Hamilton is named. Overlooking the valley is a white stone bench. It is dedicated to Jeanne Meadows, who at 65 climbed to the top of Mount Hamilton six times on her bike. Nearby is a telescope and you can use it without having to put any money into it.
Our drive back down the hill was equally exciting as the drive up. This is a great place to bring visitors to the area and if you live nearby and have never visited then it’s about time you did.
December 29 2008 | Special Places | No Comments »
