Mount Olympia

Sometimes one summit is plenty. This was a straightforward there-and-back to Mount Olympia, approached from the Donner Canyon side rather than Regency Drive — a shorter day than the multi-peak versions of this route, but no easier on the legs. Olympia's summit, at 2,946 feet, is short in distance but relentlessly steep almost the entire way, one of the toughest sustained climbs anywhere in the park for its size.

With no other peaks on the agenda, there was time to actually slow down on the way up — something that usually gets sacrificed on the bigger multi-peak days. The summit itself is small and unassuming compared to Diablo's crowded high point, but the views out across the surrounding ridgelines are just as good, without another hiker in sight.

About 6.5 miles and 2,250 feet of gain for one focused summit — proof that Olympia doesn't need North Peak, Eagle Peak, or the rest of the loop attached to be worth the climb on its own.