Topo and GPS tracks for today's traverse from Granite Chief to Needle and Lyons Peaks. ~15 miles and 4800 ft of gain. Past the Granite Chief summit it was offtrail.

Granite Chief, Needle, and Lyons are my 26th, 27th, and 28th Tahoe OGUL Peaks.

Parked across the street from the Squaw Valley Fire Station (just down the road from the main Squaw Valley Parking lot). In the distance, the Squaw Gondola was making an early afternoon ascent.

Would never have noticed the Granite Chief trailhead if were not for the guidebook I was using- its that small hiker sign at the right of the fire station.

The trail headed up between the Fire Station and neighboring condo comples, passed a ropes course, then legged up to a service road leading to this water tower. Past this point it was single track trail.

The Squaw Valley High Camp now in view across Squaw Valley.

Lupine and mule ears in bloom still, though slightly past peak. The trail had numerous small streams crossing it at various points.

Squaw Peak (left) would be visible for much of the ascent. Granite Chief (right) would soon drop behind the ridge and be hidden until the trail passed in front of it much further along.

Crossing a small side canyon downhill from Mountain Meadow lake.

Looking back down at the Squaw Valley resort.