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.

I first took notice of the two peaks while climbing Burnt Mountain across the Carbon River Valley.

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.

Saturday snow level along the Highway 2 corridor was around 3,000′; today the first patch of snow appeared just above 5,000′.

It was only a matter of time before we came back to finish singing song of the Three Witches.

An area I hadn’t explored since the long forgotten trip to Wallace Lake.

Last year our unsuccessful attempt to this mountain had us resort to Bing Peak during the same trip.