Ptarmigan Cirque is a very popular early winter season ski and snowshoe trip (before the road closes on Dec 1st), but is not listed in the Rambler database. Three of us headed off on an exploratory trip to check out what this trip option had to offer. We initially headed up a well traveled skiers up track directly across from the Highwood Parking Lot entrance. This track led us up to the NW shoulder of Little Arethusa.


Damian heading up to the cirque with Highwood Ridge in the background

At this point the snow became very sparse and proceeding along would have meant carrying our skies and traversing along a level wind scoured rocky slope into the cirque. As none of the group had done this winter trip and not sure of what lay ahead on this route option, we chose to retrace our steps back down to the starting point and take the summer trail to the North up into the cirque. Losing that elevation was a pain! It turns out that our original option into the cirque is actually one of two route options. Following the summer trail, it didn't take us long to get up the ridge on the North side of the cirque and out of the trees.


Getting ready to start the first run

The conditions on open upper slopes leading to the West shoulder of Mt Rae were hard wind slab.


Skiers on the upper ridge below the NW shoulder of Mt Rae

Rather than trek higher for questionable skiing quality we decided to to ski the sheltered open SW slopes from the treeline. Here the snow quality allowed for pleasant skiing, with snow quality improving as we skied lower.


Damian pondering his next turn

We stopped for lunch after the first run and enjoyed the views in warm sunshine in a sheltered spot at treeline.


Lunch in the sunshine at the entrance to Ptarmigan Cirque

After a second run, we decided to call it a day and exited using the slopes on north side of the drainage. This led us quickly down to the road.


Nicole cranking turns on the second run

Ptarmigan Cirque would be a good early snowshoe trip - safe from avalanche (as long as one stopped at the last copse of trees on the ridge), with great views up and down the valley. For skiers there are a couple of terrain and access options. Besides doing the loop and skiing the sheltered SW slopes from treeline, there is also the option to head West from the last set of trees and ski the steeper glades on the West side of the ridge. Thanks to Nicole and Damian for their company and for joining me Kevin on what was a bit more of an adventure than planned, at least initially.