Trip Report - Mt. Lady MacDonald in Winter

We took a scramble up Mt. Lady MacDonald in Canmore yesterday. 1200m of elevation gain on a beautifully warm and sunny mid-March day sounded like a piece of cake. But about 900m of gain in, there was a sudden and noticeable increase in foot stomping and angry hitting the ground with trekking poles in protest from the missus. She claims the snow travel was way harder than a normal hike, and that her legs were so tired she wanted to cut them off. LOL. It took a lot of coaxing and promises of 'We're almost there' and 'I'll buy you a bucket of ice cream after' to get her to slowly (and grumpily) drag her feet all the way to the summit ridge. #teamwork

Those who have done this peak before know that the crux of the summit is an extremely exposed ledge, with a straight drop off the north side, a steep sheer slide down the south face, and the thin ridge itself is a daunting traverse, requiring much care and attention. It is risky in dry summer conditions, and downright spicy when covered in some snow cornices. So for once, logic overcame my stubbornness to reach the ultimate high point, and I parked Anita at the start of the summit ridge.

When you look at the photos from the ridge, you may ask (as several others have), "What happens if you slip?" To which I respond with, "Don't slip." It may be the fastest way down, but certainly the least appealing option. :)

Also, I managed to forget my summit beer at home on the kitchen counter. When you don't beer at the summit, does it even count? #totalfail