March 22, 2026
~ submitted by Matthew Lettington
It’s been a strange winter. Every time I plan a day out, the weather seems to turn, and my hopes for skiing have been repeatedly dashed. I’ll admit, there’s also a growing unease about what this lack of snow might mean for the summer ahead.
But if there’s a silver lining, it’s this: the poor snowshoe and ski conditions have opened the door to some incredible early spring travel—conditions we usually don’t see until much later in the season.
Our recent trip to Mount Adder was a perfect example. We left the snowshoes at home.
We were able to drive up to about 550 metres before continuing on foot. From there, the road was mostly snow-free, with just a few scattered patches along the way. Even as we moved into the old growth, the forest floor showed through in many places, interrupted only by thin layers of compacted snow.
At around 900 metres—where we’d typically expect a few metres of snow—we found only about 30 centimetres. The winter trail markers hung high overhead, far above reach, quietly marking just how unusual this season has been.
It wasn’t until we began the steeper climb through the trees that we finally encountered consistent snow coverage. From there, the snow depth increased quickly, but it came with a firm, supportive crust—just enough to hold us, barely leaving a trace of our steps.
At the first open meadow before the drop into the notch, we paused to put on crampons. The conditions couldn’t have been better for them. With that extra bite of steel underfoot, our confidence grew, and we moved steadily upward.
From there, the main summit presented itself as a steep, gleaming slope. The snow was far too firm for kicking steps, so we adapted—zig-zagging to reduce the angle where possible and relying on front-pointing when needed. Despite taking our time with breaks for snacks, water, gear adjustments, and photos, the efficient travel meant we reached the summit faster than expected.
The wind was howling when we arrived, so it was a quick tag before heading back down to more sheltered terrain.
Three participants chose to traverse along the ridge and descend via an alternate line. From below, I was able to catch some great photos of them moving across the slope.
While the terrain was certainly steep, the real challenge of the day was the firmness of the snow. Ice axes were absolutely essential. Although no one needed to use them in earnest, the conditions would have made for an excellent opportunity to practice self-arrest—there were plenty of safe, controlled spots where those skills could have been tested.
In the end, I was glad to set aside my seasonal worries and simply enjoy the day for what it was. Sure, it wasn’t the snowshoe outing I had imagined—but a sunny day, firm snow, and good company make for a pretty great alternative.