This time, it was dry, not too windy, but really, really cold. And dark. Just like we like it. Well... maybe we don't really like it like that, but we do it because it's the best option. Somehow it's better to be gone from the house when the kids are sleeping than when they're just waking up.

Doubters gonna doubt, but honestly, Scott and I and the dogs left the trailhead at 8pm. Mailbox is what it is and after this many trips there's no real point in talking about it too much. At least not until we busted out into the open.

Last time Treen was up there views were zero. This time it was clear, but dark. Sound carried clearly from the freeway up 3,500 feet and the lights streamed east and west. Treen was fascinated by the views. Every time we'd hit a switchback she'd stop and stare down like it was the coolest thing ever. EVAR! Luckily, she's so well trained that when I turned at the switchback she'd follow along until the next time she could turn and look.

At the top we had the same sort of hilarity as last time we summited with Zeus and Athena. Perhaps someday they'll all just get along. Until then Treen gets to be the omega dog while everyone else asserts their dominance. (She does the same thing when playing with Tokul.)

On the upside, I did zero crash and burn falls on the way down. Score one for remembering how to hike with a dog.

Total distance was... say it with me... 5.5 miles and 4,114 feet of gain. You think it will change when we tag it in March? Me neither.