Historic Dig Day on Upper Summit; Next Dig Day is April 14th on Lower Juniper Trail
On Sunday, March 24, 2024, California State Parks, in partnership with Mount Diablo Trails Alliance as a promotional and educational supporter, hosted an important Dig Day on Upper Summit Trail at Mount Diablo State Park. Fog and unsettled weather scared away some of the 120 volunteers who registered in advance, but the 79 volunteers who braved the elements contributed to an historic Dig Day.
1.5 miles of trail were repaired, maintained and enhanced to prepare the trail for change-in-use to multi-use bike friendly, in strict accordance to the 2016 Road and Trail Management Plan (RTMP) for Mount Diablo State Park and California DPR Trails Handbook standards and best practices.
Volunteers of all ages and interests participated in a community-driven, inclusive, and educational-focused environment. Five (5) crews, led by two (2) team captains each, addressed a broad, ambitious work zone, achieving positive impact for all trail users. Proven techniques were employed throughout and with a steadfast focus on safety, ecological and cultural resource preservation, and equitable trails access.
Our fast-growing community of volunteers (aka, Trail Champions) demonstrated true grit and outstanding teamwork throughout the Dig Day. There were several trail sections that were severely rutted out and unsafe for trail users, due to inadequate surface water sheeting and damaged tread.
Necessary repairs required lots of soul and toil, but the end result made for safer conditions and resource preservation. All day long, the Trail Champions not only moved a lot of dirt but also chopped and cast the released materials, helping foster near-term restoration of wild grasses and flowers.
Special gratitude for California State Parks leadership for their support and trust. Ryen Goering, Public Safety Superintendent, Diablo Range District, was on site to share several important messages during his prepared remarks, including why the Shared Stewardship Model exists and how the 2016 RTMP is the guidepost for the future, focusing on safety, preservation and access.
Mr. Goering also met with a lot of volunteers before and after the FREE raffle prize ceremony. His genuine interest and time invested in the volunteers reflect California State Parks’ mission of protecting the biodiversity and ecological/cultural resources while also working to provide high-quality recreational opportunities for park visitors.
Gigantic thanks for all of the volunteers, especially three organizations providing a critical mass of supporters: SRV MTB Team, CCC Composite MTB Team, and REI – Dublin. These supporters and others were instrumental in achieving historic results, which allowed for the work of two (2) Dig Days to be accomplished in just ONE DAY!!
Lastly, we thank our Business Partners who supported the FREE raffle prize ceremony to reward the Minors in attendance. Honorable mentions include Enve Composites, Danville Bike, Forward Motion Sports, First Mile Cycle Works, Trek Alamo, Hank and Frank Bicycles, R&A Cycles, Beyond Aero, and Sports Basement - Walnut Creek.
Visit our Photos and WHY Factor webpages for highlights from the Dig Day.
https://www.mountdiablotrailsalliance.org/photos
https://www.mountdiablotrailsalliance.org/whyfactor
Sign up for our E-Alerts to learn when you can participate in a future Dig Day.
The Dig Days schedule for April and May is available on our Dig Days page.
The next Dig Day is Sunday, April 14th on Lower Juniper Trail.