March 15, 2025
~ submitted by Matthew Lettington
Well, at the very least, we can say it was a day in the mountains.
One common issue when planning a day of learning is that the weather doesn’t really care about your plans. While we had hoped for a multiday steep-angle adventure, the forecast had us adjusting our expectations, turning the trip into a single-day learning experience.
We drove up to nearly 1000 meters and parked where the snow depth reached about 5 inches. After gathering for 90 minutes of show-and-tell, Chris and Matthew walked us through a range of boots and crampons, explaining the differences between them, how to choose the right gear, and what to look for when purchasing.
With gear sorted, we hit the slopes, aiming for the saddle between Cokely and Arrowsmith—a spot the club has used for decades. Let me start by saying, “I still had fun.” But it was definitely the type-two fun, the kind you don’t exactly enjoy in the moment, but appreciate later.
The conditions were far from ideal for the type of learning we had in mind. The route was loaded with windblown snow, and in many places, it felt like soft, mid-calf-deep icy crystals. It was soft, but incredibly challenging.
Progress was slow due to a few gear malfunctions (a learning experience for me) and less-than-ideal conditions. The day’s learning mostly came from firsthand experience navigating through the trees and tackling fresh snow on varying terrain.
When we finally broke out into the open, the wind hit us hard. Several times, I had to steady myself to keep from face-planting. The visibility was so poor I couldn’t even tell if it was actually snowing—snow was blowing in every direction.
After a quick lunch and what could only be described as the world’s shortest practice session, we made the decision to retreat back to the car.
Overall, it was a challenging day, but I still had fun.
Here’s a link so some pictures and videos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/49ZASsnvVWZ2xQHb8