One of the big mountain challenges in the East Bay is the climb up Mt. Hamilton from the east side. This year we started the ride from the Junction Cafe at the junction of Del Puerto Canyon and Mines Roads. It was only a 19-mile ride to the top but the climbing was somewhere in the neighborhood of 4,000+ feet, a double mountain goat.

There are two very steep false summits before the big climb, which was an unrelenting 5-mile climb at an average 9% grade. Since the road to the top (Hwy 130) is narrow and full of switchbacks, there is very little traffic to deal with. Just a few motorcyclists who come whizzing by.

The Lick Observatory is located on the top of Mt. Hamilton. There is a virtual little city at the top with residences, a school, offices and a complex of about 10 observatories of various sizes. Mt. Hamilton (elev. 4,209') straddles the mountain range between San Jose and Livermore.
 
We started the ride at the Junction Cafe and headed out Hwy 130, aka San Antonio Road
 
Oak woodland valleys come into view as the climbing begins
 
Hwy 130 twists and turns its way to the top
 
A few wildflowers still bloomed on the mountain -- some kind of penstemon (L) and mariposa lilly (R)
 
A city of domes at the top Frank, Geno, Herb & Dick atop 4,209' Mt. Hamilton
 
Inside the Lick Observatory, a hallway lined with awesome photos of gallaxies, nebulas, and comets
 
A popular destination for club outings -- a dune buggy club and a custom Lotus 7 roadster
 
Heading back down -- another big "dome" and fire lookout dominate the skyline
 
A screaming 5-mile descent from the top Dick chasing "Marco Pantani" around a switchback
 
Whoosh!! One of many switchback turns A Southern Alligator Lizard, one of the largest indigenous lizards, can grow up to 14". This one was a foot long.
 
More beautiful wildflowers -- Blazing Star and Rock Dudleya