I rented snowshoes, but I decided not to take them because the snow wasn't very deep on the east-facing side of the mountain. I would later regret that decision as I descended the west side of the ridge. I started the hike at 8:55 am in very windy but otherwise perfect conditions - clear sky and about 5 degrees celsius. The hike to McConnell Ridge was pleasant, though not particularly scenic until the upper part. I arrived at the ridge at 10:45 am, where the view of Barrier Lake, Mount Baldy, and the valley down highway 40 was quite spectacular. I then went further up to the Barrier Lake Lookout for another great view. The snow was quite deep here and the contrast between the white snow, green trees, and deep blue sky was amazing.

For the return trip I decided to complete the loop via Jewel Pass and Stoney Trail - big mistake - without snowshoes the 8.3 km hike was grueling beyond belief....it felt more like 83 km! The snow was very deep and I found myself post-holing past my knees on every step. I was going as fast as I could, because I was not sure if I was on the right trail, and by the time I reached the lake (still 4 km from the car) I was stumbling more than walking. Overall, a very good hike (an easy one for the summer) and I'll probably return (with snowshoes!).