Little Arethusa Route Map (see link in desciption - or click here - for interactive version).

Our objective, Little Arethusa, as seen from the Ptarmigan Cirque parking lot. I don't know about you, but Nugara's suggestion of trekking 1.4km south down the highway to reach the summer trail wasn't the most enticing...Luckily, a different option exists! Some previous ski tracks, along with Vern Dewit's trip report, prompted us to ascend an open gully, directly across the highway, instead :).

Massive shoutout to the skiers that paved the trail for us! We found an old skin track entering the trees, and easily followed it as it switch-backed its way through the dense forest, eventually emerging to the open gully. As beautiful as the weather looks, it was mighty cold, and we had to stop and stick some hand warmers in my dad's boots, whose feet were already going numb!

We soon reached the top of the gully, and began traversing below Little Arethusa's steep, western slopes. While Vern simply ascended straight up to the ridge at this point, those loose and slick-looking slopes were unsuccessful at gaining my interest, and we decided to make our lives easier by adding a little bit of extra distance to our day in order to reach the (more pleasant) south ridge.

Look at all the snow!!

We easily continued around the mountain, and were soon looking up Little Arethusa's southern ascent slopes.

Looking back to Highwood Ridge, stretching out across the highway.

What a beautiful day! Storm Mountain's shapely form rises behind us.

Grinding up the southern slopes, with the sun beating down. While the air temperature was bloody freezing, that big ball of fire in the sky has a way of working wonders, and we were shedding layer after layer as we made our way up to the summit ridge.

Looking back down. Luckily the snow cover was still pretty sparse on this slope, so avalanches weren't of concern. Even so, don't underestimate this slope! The view from below is greatly foreshortened, and there are definitely sections that would be steep enough to slide.

Eventually we reached the summit ridge, which is definitely more interesting than the highway view suggests...

We began our traverse just below the crest, to climber's left.

That didn't last long however, as a steep, snow-loaded slope soon forced us back up to the crest, which was just a wee bit exposed...

Continuing up the ridge. We made sure to keep a safe distance from the big drop to our right, unsure what lay beneath the snow cover.

The final climb to the summit! Taking the ridge crest looked way too risky here, so we decided to descend a short ways to our left, before ascending the steep, rock-protruding slopes directly below the summit.

This route was only made possible thanks to favourable conditions at the time of our ascent. If this slope had a little bit more snow on it, it would've turned into some serious avalanche terrain with a nasty runout! To be honest, I have no idea what the best course of action would be if this slope was snow-loaded...Probably just go home 😂!

I was ready to celebrate as I reached what I thought would be the summit, only to realize that an ever-so-slightly higher point lay a short, narrow, and completely snow-covered ridgewalk away!...I would definitely consider this the sketchiest part of the climb. I took the snow basket off one of my poles, and probbed multiple times before carefully taking each step. Photo credit: Dad

Looking back across the traverse! There's some winter exposure for ya...A sheer drop on one side, and a steep, snowy chute on the other, both of which dropped hundreds of meters down to the valley below 😬! (Pictures never do it justice.) My dad wisely chose to remain on the safety of the "first peak".

Me, on the tiny summit of Little Arethusa! Photo credit: Dad

Mount Rae towers to 3218m, on the opposite side of Ptarmigan Cirque!

Little Arethusa's parent peak, Mount Arethusa, forms an impressive ridge across the valley, to the east.

My solo ascent up Storm Mountain this past summer was quite the experience 😉!

Too many peaks mesh together over Pocaterra's north ridge to even try and differentiate them all!

Looking south, to a collection of peaks that are quite unknown to me as of now! From left to right I believe we have: Bishop, Loomis, Odlum, Running Rain, and Storelk.

An expansive sea of peaks stretch out below a blinding ball of fire.

A closer look at the stunning Storm Mountain, towering over 700m above the valley floor!

Looking directly across the highway to Pocaterra Ridge. If you look closely, you'll notice plenty of ski tracks on those snowy slopes...Inspiration for our adventure tomorrow??

While this is just an unnamed, overshadowed outlier of the mighty Mount Rae, it's quite an impressive peak when you isolate it!

The distant Spray Lakes Road. Mount Murray stands out (center), with Prairie Lookout rising to the left.

Soaking it all in.

Zooming-in to Mount Rae's lofty summit.

Beautiful contrast on Mount Arethusa!

Summit selfie!

Another summit register placed :)! (I put it inside the small cairn at the "first peak".)

Storelk Mountain, Highwood Ridge, Grizzly Ridge, Mount Tyrwhitt, Mount Joffre (distant), and Mount Pocaterra above Pocaterra Ridge (left to right)!

After a cold, but beautiful summit stay, my dad starts retracing our steps down the mountain.

Looking back at my carefully placed tracks along the "crux" summit traverse.

Comprehensive view down the ridge.

Back up to the summit.

More of the ridge.

The short, exposed section.

Tracks.

Route-finding is always easier when you have a "trail" to follow 😉. Photo credit: Dad

Our descent from the summit ridge was super speedy! We chose to leave our snowshoes on our packs, and plunge-stepped/slid our way down to the valley in just our boots.

Another sun shot ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Clear skies are such a rarity for us in winter that I gotta get 'em while I can!

So here's the plan: Apparently I'm supposed to ski down that chute tomorrow...My dad's going to drive down to Calgary tonight, buy a drone, and get some sick footage of me...Good idea?? 😂

Interesting rock formations down Storm's west ridge.

Dramatic shadows.

Last look at some beautiful evening light on Storm, before turning our backs, and starting back down to the highway.

A little bit of alpenglow, back at the parking lot.

What an incredible way to kick off the season! After experiencing way too many bad weather days last winter, any day that isn't a whiteout feels so special! We couldn't have asked for better weather for our first ever snowy adventure up at Highwood Pass (well I guess a little warmer would have been nice...But I'm not about to be picky 😉), and the winter stoke is officially high!!

Now snowshoeing is fun and all...and we weren't planning on bringing the skis out with it being early season...But all those skin tracks on Pocaterra Ridge are getting to my head!...Any guesses what we'll be doing tomorrow?? 😂