Six of us OTHH snagged a surprisingly good early May hiking day, between days of rain, to make the hike up to Starr King (a 52WAV). After a snack while appreciating the look southward toward the Presidential Range (still in the clear), we "went the extra mile," so to speak (and literally a mile further along the ridge), to bag Waumbek, second most northern of the 48. The upper part of the trail to Starr King presented us with considerable ice, then "monorail" snow, requiring the use of microspikes on the boots. That mile over to Waumbek had far less bare ground than long stretches of firm monorail, with a great many hip-deep postholes to either side. Although walking that narrow snow ridge was somewhat like walking along a balance beam, it actually made for fairly fast travel over much of it, as in winter hiking.
Below, snacking by the old fireplace and chimney just past the top of Starr King, are Pat, Barb, Marie, Katherine, and Andy (pic by Dick).
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