In its nearly 50-year history, nothing has ever canceled this event: Not snowstorms, not bare ground, not pandemics. Bring things to snack on & sip on, and a shot of brandy is offered to adults at the summit. Young children, dogs, & the person lugging the brandy all routinely summit, but people go at their own pace, as far as they like, & turn around when they like: You do not have to go all the way to the top (unless you really want the brandy). If you wear snow pants, you can slide down on the descent here & there, which is great fun!