How do I climb in deep snow?

It's winter here and I tried to climb a mountain but the snow was so deep it was near impossible. There was a thin layer of ice on the top but it couldn't hold my weight so it would break and then I'd sink up to my thighs or even above my waist. It was so exhausting and hard I had to turn back like a pussy.

I thought maybe I should buy those snowshoe things but even then I feel like I'd just sink through.

>picrel