I find Moder isn't too bad so long as you judge that a mountain is high enough to potentially have a Vegvisir or her altar. My first playthrough I had trouble because by chance all my islands I explored only had low level mountains with the snow but not the Draugr forts. And that was before Ice Caverns were added.

Now I sail until I find a truly tall shape looming in the distance and scaling those peaks I can at least find a Vegvisir, either in a fort or a cave.