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Mt. Davidson
Previously known as 'Blue Mountain'.
Mt. Davidson has been on my ‘places to see’ list since we watched Dirty Harry during movie night. In the movie, Harry confronts Scorpio at the base of the cross on top of the mountain [watch it]. Of course, in the movie it seems like it takes him seconds to get up there when in reality it’s more of a trek. Mount Davidson is the highest natural point in San Francisco and, unlike Mt. Olympus, it is located near the geographical center of the city.
Mt. Davidson was the last of our adventure attractions this past Saturday (the other attractions included Garden for the Environment, Hawk Hill, and Edgehill Mountain.) We left Edgehill Mountain, headed across the mini-highway, and up Juanita way towards an entrance to one of the trails.
The entrance off of Juanita Way.
Most of the trail looked like this: a muddy mess.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the eastern side of Mt. Davidson was tree-less at the top of the park. I had expected it to be like Mt. Sutro: covered with trees and therefore lacking in the view department.
Surprise! No trees.
This makes for a pretty stunning view of Twin Peaks, SF Downtown, and the eastern side of the city – not to mention on a clear day (like last Saturday) you can even see Oakland in the distance.
Sutro Tower, Twin Peaks, and SF Downtown
Diamond & Bernal Heights, maybe some Noe Valley.
San Bruno Mountain
The infamous concrete cross stands 103ft tall on the western side of the park. It’s the fourth cross to sit atop Mt. Davidson. The first three were made of wood and were subsequently burned to the ground by arsonists. Learning from their mistakes, this final cross is made of steel and concrete. According to longtime local columnist Herb Caen, the original plans in 1934 called for a cross 100 feet high, but there was “enough concrete on hand for an extra three feet – so on it went.”
The infamous cross.
Mt. Davidson is one of San Francisco’s original “Seven Hills”. This seven hills include: Telegraph Hill, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, Rincon Hill, Mount Sutro, Twin Peaks and Mount Davidson. Chris works near Telegraph Hill, I used to live on Nob Hill, Emily lives on Russian Hill, we currently live at the base of Mt. Sutro and travel to Twin Peaks frequently – the only one we haven’t been to is Rincon Hill. I smell adventure!
Overall I would say Mt. Davidson has the same conventional San Francisco view and overall vibe as Twin Peaks. However, I like it better because it’s less touristy (they’d actually have to hike to the top instead of riding a bus.) Check out all of my Mt. Davidson photos on flickr! Also check out my collection of all of the San Francisco parks we’ve been to.
Linzi
P.S. Speaking of Dirty Harry, I didn’t mention it in the post but this scene is filmed in Kezar Stadium where I go running in the morning!
Linzi and 
Sue are discussing. 
Sue 10:53 pm on February 22, 2012 Permalink |
Why the giant cross?
Linzi 12:36 am on February 23, 2012 Permalink |
I’m happy you asked! Back in 1909, the first mountaintop Easter Sunrise event was held on Mount Rubidoux in Riverside, California. This was the first event of its kind and the idea quickly spread. The first cross was erected on Mount Davidson in 1923 for a Easter Sunrise Service, led by Dean J. Wilmer Gresham of Grace Cathedral.
They still hold the annual Sunrise Service at Mount Davidson Cross every year. This year’s citywide celebration atop the City’s highest peak marks the 90th anniversary of the event.
Linzi 12:50 am on February 23, 2012 Permalink |
UPDATE: I learned today that it’s a common misconception that Mt. Davidson was previously known as Blue Mountain. Around 1927, British Navy Captain William Beechey’s job, when not fighting at sea, was to explore the coastline. On his second visit in 1827, he got permission to actually scour the hills and chart the area. He named our good old pal Mt. Sutro Blue Mountain, not Mt. Davidson. (This is the same guy who named the current Mount Tamalpais, formerly Pico y Cerro de Reyes, Table Mountain. Not so good with names, this one.) Beechey’s choice of “Blue Mountain” first appeared on maps starting in 1833 and that’s what it was called when Adolph Sutro bought it a generation or so later.
The Sierra Club did a hike in 1910, and they wanted to christen two peaks. One would be Mount Davidson, for George Davidson, a geographer who had worked on the hill for the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. And the other one – the one already named Blue Mountain – would be changed to Sutro Crest. Emma, one of Sutro’s six children, got with the Sierra Club and requested that it be changed to Mount Sutro.
How interesting! Here’s a link to the site I got all this wonderful info: KALW News.