Paradise Valley ski to Lake Annette Off-Trail skiing on 28-Mar-2026

Participants: Clifton, Gary, Jane, Ulrike, Gordon, Jenny, Tina, Chris

Some recent snow, mild temperatures and a mix of sun and cloud with light wind made for a perfect day to ski up Paradise Valley and to Lake Annette. We met around 9.30 to an almost empty parking lot at the Moraine Lake road. It was a great chance to check out others’ light touring gear with a mix of wider skin skis, waxables and fish scales. Up the track set (last for the season according to Parks’ website) to the Paradise Valley turnoff and eventually reaching the creek and first bridge. We stayed to the south side of the stream, except to cross the last bridge, and conditions were great. Some old tracks ahead of us but we were the first (and apparently only) group to head up that way for the day. Lots of time for photos and snack stops along the way. At the last bridge before the lake turnoff, most of us put on full or kicker skins for the short but steep trail to Lake Annette. Let’s just say it was steep enough that everyone had skins on by the top (walking also a perfectly acceptable option!).

We’ve done a number of winter trips to Lake Annette and usually the lack of sun, wind and cold temperatures result in a very quick lunch stop. That was not the case today and we had a chance to admire Mount Temple in all her icy glory while enjoying our tea and sandwiches. A fun descent from the lake back to Paradise Creek requiring a few deft manoeuvres, some expert braking and walking possibly the smartest choice! The snow had warmed up after lunch and a few applied some glop stopper wax to avoid clumping – mostly it seemed to be the fish scale folks with this issue. But once into the trees again it was smooth sailing back to the trailhead.

Thanks so much to the snow lovers for joining us. We all agreed it was a lovely day in the mountains. Congrats to Tina for her first official “off-trail” adventure on skis! Thanks to Ulli for photos.