January 19, 2009
Today I'm out for a quick easy hike with my pal Madison. After a long day yesterday, and another tricky, snowy drive over here this morning, we didn't start until a little after 11:00 a.m. We walked up Starr King Drive looking to my left to see if Jim, Winnie, or Billy the Kid was out in about. Maddie and I met them on our last hike here on December 20, 2008. There was no sign of anyone outside. I would stop in once I returned. I was relieved to find that someone was ahead of me breaking trail. Up we went.
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I met two hikers coming down.
"Thanks for breaking trail," I said.
"We didn't have to do much," one of them said. "It was broken out from yesterday with just a couple new inches on top."
View from the top of Starr King
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The chimney on Starr King
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Madison was having fun but missed Billy the Kid.
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Since it was a nice day and the trail was broken out, I left my pack on Starr King and headed over to Waumbek through the winter wonderland.
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The 4006' summit of Waumbek made #19 for my 48 in 1 winter season. I started on January 1st so that's 19 peaks in 19 days. Maddie and I returned over the same route. Once we reached Starr King Drive, I visited with my new friends Jim and Winnie. Unfortunately, Billy the Kid was on a play date which Madison was sad about. She wanted to see her new friend. Maybe next time, Maddie.

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