We don’t have much in the way of glaciers here in Colorado. So we just name anything a “glacier” and then we’re good. St. Mary’s is near Denver, a patch of snow that gets wind loaded from a gigantic fetch zone and lasts into summer. Fun to visit. We’ve had dry weather for a few weeks, thus no skiffs of new snow to even out the sun cups. Rough. I got one more test of the Elan Ibex84 skis, me like.
Yours truly, on the ‘glacier,’ St Mary lake below.
Our possible goal for the day was actually the Colorado Front Range classic James Peak, on horizon in this photo. Remember what I wrote above about “fetch?” Well, you’re looking at the fetch in this photo. Most snow gets blown off the tundra and ends up down below on the glacier. Come springtime you soon have bare tundra. Nice flowers. Sublime hiking. Additional miles of ski boot foot abuse wasn’t in the plan so we swung around and skied.
Literally thousands of people enjoy this area, it’s rather maxed out but nice to see everyone outside.
Dirt hiking to a summer snow patch, punching my Colorado man card.
Summer skiing at its finest.
WildSnow.com publisher emeritus and founder Lou (Louis Dawson) has a 50+ years career in climbing, backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering. He was the first person in history to ski down all 54 Colorado 14,000-foot peaks, has authored numerous books about about backcountry skiing, and has skied from the summit of Denali in Alaska, North America’s highest mountain.