Five and a half years had passed since our bear encounter on Taylor Mountain.

We welcomed the New Year atop Granite Mountain in the crisp, albeit subfreezing, air.

This year I managed to rally two friends to help spice up the typically low-key outing.

Some refer to Devils Mountain as a “dumpster dive” destination or the backup of a backup plan.

Today I took the pup up to Poo Poo Point where he visited for the first time.

I finally discovered the shortcut up to the Powerline Trail behind our neighborhood.

While researching recent outings, I came upon an alternate approach from Olallie State Park.

Pup’s and my first time climbing both high points on the same trip.

Pup and I had also climbed the mountain back to back with Dickerman Mountain seven years ago.

Thanks to a two-day-old trip report, highway was still open clear to the trailhead.