It's the first day of winter, time to start hiking winter peaks again!  Unfortunately, there was a major rain storm in the week leading up to the 21st, and that did some major road damage by Owl's Head on 73.  Coming into the day, I was concerned about water levels around the washbowl.  I totally forgot that on the ridge trail you cross the outlet 3 times.

A group of us started at 6 AM and went up the ridge trail.  I was happy to find out that I wasn't the slowest on the ups.  In the dark, crossing those 3 stream crossings was fun to do by headlamp.  They were high, but we were able to get across just fine.  We reached the outlook just before the washbowl in time to see the sun rise on the Dix range.  The trail up was a mixture of frozen dirt and ice, with occasional patches of packed snow.  Most of us didn't bring our shoes because it's not a legal requirement on that side of the road, and we didn't think we'd need them.  We were right.

We got to the top of Giant and took our pictures, but it was windy and we didn't really want to stop there.  This was actually the first time I got the views as the first time it was cloudy, and the second time I skipped it because it started to rain.  The climb is a bit PITA up the ridge trail, but the reward is worth it.

Next it was over to RPR.  This was my biggest concern as there's the infamous "ice bubble" on the way down.  We got down it with the help of a bit of webbing.  We took our time heading over to RPR, and an old trick of mine when leading a group of staying just a little too far ahead making the person following me have to catch up (they can always yell to stop, I am not that far ahead) allowed me to "pull" the slowest member up RPR.  They were extremely appreciative of this after they saw the view, and knowing they wouldn't have to do it again.  

On the way out, it was facing that ice bubble again.  I was able to pull myself up by using a tree and microspikes.  I was happy and surprised I didn't need the full crampons.  I helped everyone else up, and we were able to make it up and out without any problems.

This makes 8/46 Winter peaks.