Climbing St. Mary's Glacier in a Snowstorm
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- Опубліковано 24 січ 2024
- Hiking to St. Mary's Glacier in Colorado is a winter hiking favorite for Colorado locals. The Rocky Mountains gave us a real treat with a full on snow storm that rolled in five hours earlier than forecast, which made for an epic hike and ethereal views of St. Mary's Lake from the St. Mary's Glacier lookout. This is one winter hike in Rocky Mountain that you do not want to miss .... and don't forget to bring your ice axe for an awesome glissade back down the mountain!
#hiking #winterhiking #rockymountain
A beautiful, slightly eerie landscape! Was that a new song, Elise? (Very atmospheric - suits the mountain!).
Yes Catherine! It's our newest one, and we wrote it especially for these kinds of winter hikes -- so glad you liked it! ❤️
First song w/ piano is exquisite and shines with Elise's lower range. Oh wow! then the cascading pre-chorus of falling melody reflecting the "angels falling down." Super well-crafted song writing. 3rd song has a spiraling cycle on keyboard that is exciting and elevates the building vocals. Thanks for all your work composing.
Yay Mark so happy you like it! That first one is our brand new song we've just been finishing this week -- will hopefully be able to play the whole thing in an upcoming video in a week or two. So excited about it! ❤️
The slide down looked SO fun!! You've been writing a LOT of music, Elise--beautiful!
Aw thanks pops! I’m excited for you to hear the full version of the new tune. It was a good rainy day activity this weekend ❤️
IM LOVING THE COLORADO CONTENT!!!!!!!!!!! MORE PLSSSSSSS
You got it, Veeda! We are going to spend a whole month in CO this summer doing tons of 14-ers and other climbs, and then another whole month next winter doing stuff like this one! ❤️
You two’s laughter and smiles are infectious.
Gotta love a good glissade
Totally, Monty! Just like a picture is worth a thousand words, a good glissade is worth a thousand down climbs!!! ❤️
Like the sliding and snow arrests. Good fun and good practice for when you need it.
Thank you, and that's a great point. It really is about the best possible way to practice for emergency self-arresting on something even steeper and icier, because you get a chance to do it at high speed which rarely happens (due to liability concerns, probably) when people practice self-arresting in a class. ❤️
OMG!!! That looks like so much fun! You guys are just too much. 😄
Haha yes Phyllis! Definitely the funnest hike of the winter so far, and it made us decide we're going to take a whole month in Colorado next winter to explore more spots like this! ❤️
This is one of my favorite local hikes. I've sat on the rock where Adam had his snack spots many times. It is usually packed with people most of the year. You can keep going on this trail up to James Peak which is AMAZING. Watching you guys glissade down this one and in the last video made me smile. Also... Laura Croft ain't got nothing on Elise!!! So happy to see you guys enjoying yourselves out here. Keep em coming!! Best wishes!!!
I was about to suggest James Peak also. It's a wonderful hike in better weather.
So glad you enjoyed, and thanks for the tip about James Peak! We will be spending a lot of time in CO this summer, so James Peak could very well be in our future!! ❤️
Ok we're def writing down James for our trip out this summer and/or our longer trip next winter! ❤️
I always get a chuckle from your videos !! Great stuff 🙂
Thanks Craig -- so happy you're enjoying and getting a laugh from it. We def think adventure and laughter are the perfect pairing! ❤️
Beautifully done guys! Such a joy to watch you have so much fun in the snow and Ice. Brings back memories of being a kid again. Thank you for reminding me with this episode. Love you guys! ❤️
We felt exactly the same, Larry! That whole day after glissading the glacier we were just laughing and goofing around like kids. Sometimes it really is just the simple kid-like things that are the best at reminding us to enjoy life. Much love, and hope you're doing great! ❤️
Thumbs up for nicely executed Glissade.
Thanks very much -- was SO much fun!! ❤️
I believe Colorado had more snow this year than last , site is so beautiful Thanks for sharing and taking us on adventure always a great one
Thanks Andrea! Yes it definitely was snowing off and on while we were there and a big storm rolled in the day we left, so hopefully they're getting that much-needed snow and great ski conditions! ❤️
some of my favorite times are glissading down long snowfields! My first time off Forester Pass on the JMT/PCT was early June and the whole north face down to the first lake (whose name I forget) was solid snowfield with the trail buried somewhere underneath! So? Break out the ice axe and go for a slide! And Adam, with regard to midwest and Rockies weather, there is an old saying: If you don't like the looks of it, just give it a few minutes! Thanks for taking us along!
Totally agree, Jeff! That's a great story about Forester Pass, and def the kind of thing you never forget. We had a similar one on Tour du Mont Blanc where we glissaded about half a mile from France into Italy on the leg into Courmayeur. Such a great memory. And ya, we're definitely learning that saying about CO weather the hard way. Craziness! ❤️
Love your slide down Elise... Seem so much fun... Awesome as usual 🤗✌️🥂
Thanks Serge! Oh my gosh it was SO fun sliding down -- really steep, and just scary enough to be exhilarating! ❤️ --E
A note to say thank you for all the great videos
You inspire my wife and I to get out and hike.
Thank you!
Yes!!!! That is so fantastic to hear, and all we need to keep us motivated. Really happy that you guys are enjoying the videos and getting out there adventuring together! ❤️
Glissading is the best. Aren’t you glad now you wore snow pants!!❄️☃️⛄️ So beautiful and peaceful And on a full moon And lovely music and vocals. Doesn’t get any better! Thanks for the amazing escape in a winter wonderland⛄️❄️☃️
Haha yes Mary! I was bummed at first when I was sweating, but that sweet glissade def made it all worthwhile. Really glad you like the new song -- we've been having a blast working on it the last couple weeks! ❤️
Love the cliffs at 4:08! Cool new music, too.
Thanks Thomas! Still finishing recording that first song, but loving where it's going -- so happy you like it! ❤️
So cool. Those rocks scattered on the ice of the frozen lake and even out of the water on the opposite shore really give you an idea of how rocks have cascaded down from the peaks at different times during other winters and migrated across the lake. The same rocks would likely collect at the base of the incline when the water is open. And, at this point, I think Elise has established her Laura Croft look and credentials. I kinda expect it when she is out on the trail.
That's so interesting, and a really great point about the rocks on the opposite shore. One of the best things about exploring in different seasons is coming across things like that and getting a fuller sense of how it all works together! ❤️
Great video! The glissading looked super fun. The three people down at the lake, as you were coming down, got a hike and a show :)
Haha yes -- those were the snow-boarders! They were super sweet guys, and gave us big props for sending it on the glissade! ❤️
ELISE and ADAM a hello from France. Very nice video made under the snow, and the peaks have to be earned, it's not so easy to reach the domain of the hibernating gods. ELISE is ready to go to the Winter Olympics in the artistic dance category, or to take over the role of LARA CROFT. What a pleasure to see two big children sliding for dozens of meters, ADAM you share with me your joy and that of ELISE, I had a good laugh. Kisses to both of you. DAN
ELISE et ADAM un bonjour de France. Très jolie vidéo réalisée sous la neige, et les sommets se méritent, ce n’est pas si facile d’atteindre le domaine des dieux qui hibernent. ELISE est prête pour aller aux jeux olympiques d’hiver dans la catégorie danse artistique, ou pour reprendre le rôle de LARA CROFT. Quel plaisir de voir deux grands enfants glisser sur des dizaines de mètres, ADAM tu me fais partager ta joie et celle d’ELISE, j’ai bien rigolé. Bises à vous deux. DAN
Merci beaucoup, Dan! Nous pensons que nous voulons aller aux Jeux Olympiques dans la categorie de glissade! Mais maintenant, il faut les convaincre de le creer! ❤️
St Mary's Glacier has been a Summer Snowboard hike for decades. I did it in Fall of 93 to get amped for the upcoming season
That is awesome!! As you know it's way steeper than it looks on camera, and would def make for a super fun ski or snowboard run especially after a nice snow! ❤️
Hahahah so much fun at the end! I’ve never even heard of this - glisade? So fun! Glad you guys were able to get an adventure in before the storm came. Love you ❤❤❤
Ya Arielle it's originally a French word -- glissade with a double s. It basically just means sliding downhill on your butt, but French makes everything sound more elegant 😂. And it is SO freaking fun! ❤️
Rocky Mountain weather forecasts are just slightly better than throwing darts. Neat area, I almost bought a cabin up that road years ago. There is still some summer skiing up high there on St. Mary's glacier. Love the glissade.
Haha so we are discovering! Totally see why you would have wanted to buy there -- just absolutely spectacular vistas, with great hiking in every direction. And, of course, living at altitude which makes every high summit more achievable. SO looking forward to living permanently at altitude! ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard - I live at 9200' - makes a HUGE difference in everything.
@@mountainflyhigh Oh HECK yes!!!
Lots of snow videos ooo, stay safe guys and cheers for taking us with you on this awesome journey!
For sure! We've def begun to adapt to the snow since it's so important for high altitude mountaineering, and we're finding that at lower altitudes it's just good old-fashioned fun! ❤️
Beautiful Song Elise🥰
Cyndi that's so sweet, thank you! The first one (as we were coming up to the lake) is still a work in progress, but we're super excited about it! ❤️
Icy and Dicey loved it guys
Haha yes John! That's def gonna be our winter motto! ❤️
Bestway ever .. down snow-covered hills. Wheeee ❄️❄️
Totally agree! This one was just absolutely perfect -- high speed, with relatively minimal chance of disaster. Dreamy!! ❤️
Love that...minimum disaster runs 😵💫😁🤣🎯@@LiveHardxLoveHard
FANTASTIC SONG E!
So glad you like it! It's still a work in progress, but should be fully ready in a couple of weeks!! ❤️
Once again, I was thinking, "Oh noes, racing a snowstorm? Isn't this how ppl end up in a Missing 411 case?" The ice dancing is improving, keep at it! And -- let's call it what it is -- the bodysledding was hilarious, and so efficient :)
Now pls can we have that Hawaii trip!
Haha we were thinking the same thing -- avalanches and white-outs are definitely our biggest winter fears, especially in areas we're not familiar with. But it turned out to be a blast, and a super easy trail to follow even if visibility got low. We're def gonna do Hawaii, but now wondering if we should put it off until after Adam early retires so we can go for a whole month. But on the other hand, we def need to do something warm soon! ❤️
Be bold, start cold. Sweat is your worst enemy.
I pretty much always follow that philosophy, but def got a little over-warm on this one. But it all paid off when I had the snow pants on for the glissade! ❤️ --E
Moving around the west, showing the best!
Thanks Court, and that is most definitely our whole life plan!! ❤️
Laura Croft hiking in the snow! I’m a fan! Great content guys “-))
Haha yes Stacie, that is my winter vibe for sure! So glad you're enjoying!! ❤️ --E
That's a great summer lunch hike , and maybe even more special in a winter snowstorm, looks like you both had a great time, thanks for sharing, Larry Owens
We really did have a great time, Larry, and def liked the winter version because glissading is the most fun thing ever!! ❤️
Love that area of CO! One of the races I do starts/end about 20 minutes or so from there. Pro tip: Don't check the weather forecast, just look at the radar. Radar doesn't lie!
Thanks Dan -- ya we're just starting to figure out that the CO forecasts aren't very reliable at all! Is it a summer race? We might need to check it out when we're back in August/September! ❤️
Found you a few days ago and totally mesmerized by your skills 😮 Amazing videos. Someday, I would love to see Patagonia or Faroe through your eyes..
Thanks so much, Moumita -- we're really happy you found us! We will definitely do a Patagonia trip in the next couple of years, and Faroe would be great too!! ❤️
Love it love it
Thanks John! Such a fun one!! ❤️
Colorado must be such a fantastic state with the Rocky Mountains and all. A friend of mine said Colorado is the sunshine state with 300 days of sunshine a year ... not sure about that though. Loved to play the Thomb Raider games on PS once. ... Anyway, wishing you guys a great week ahead.
Haha yes! It's true that CO gets 300 days of sun a year, but it definitely gets some freak snow and thunderstorms too. A very exciting place! I liked Tomb Raider too, and Lara Croft was def kind of my hero! ❤️ --E
Well THAT looked like all kinds of fun! Elise.. your voice is absolutely beautiful on the background vocals! ❤
Thanks so much, Kari! That first song is our newest, which we love and are just finishing this week. Really happy you like it! ❤️ --E
Love the bottom sledding!
Haha us too, Ted! Really about the most fun you can have on a steep winter mountain! ❤️
Like the cracking ice!
Ya that ice was really cool -- honestly, the whole place was super unique and interesting, and the glissade of a lifetime! ❤️
Definitely need to do this hike again! So happy that you're enjoying the best state in the nation;)
Yes Kim! You gotta do that glissade -- honestly the funnest glissade we've had since glissading down Shasta! We really are loving CO and will be spending a lot more time there both this summer and next winter. So looking forward to it! ❤️
Crunch crunch...love the sound of your boots on the snow. You guys both look great, wow! Where do you get your musical accompaniment? It adds just the right touch. Cheers Wouldn’t they be flying rocks not falling rocks you'd be on the lookout for? hahah take care
Thanks so much, and really delighted you liked the music! We make all of it ourselves, and that's me singing on all the tracks, so we def try to make songs that go well with the kinds of hikes we do! ❤️ --E
@@LiveHardxLoveHard I thought it might be your voice. Excellent work on ALL fronts, production is really solid. Thx
I've done James Peak a number of times via Mary's Glacier. It's a good hike.
Great tip -- we've been hearing a few good things about it since we posted! If we don't do it when we're out this summer, will def do it next winter (hopefully when it's not snowing!). ❤️
You two get the award for thumbnail of the year :o)
Haha thanks very much. We're definitely trying to make some engaging thumbnails -- it's not so easy to get YT to show our videos to people these days, even to our own subscribers, but a good thumbnail can definitely help! ❤️
Calling it - Glissading - Winter Olympics 2026 - Elyse and Adam representing the USA!
Hahaha OMG you'd better believe that Adam would enter that sport in a heartbeat. And you're right -- I'd be kind of scared, but once I saw him doing it I wouldn't want to be left behind and would totally enter too! 😂 --E
lol the thumbnail pict for this video was awesome
Thanks very much -- we were stoked on this one! ❤️
Really cool episode guys! Loved the amount of snowfall up there, sure not such great views but what I call 'great ambiance' to a winter hike
Thanks Scott -- we felt exactly the same way. It would have been nice to see all the mountains from the lookout, but we actually loved the unique look and feel of all the falling snow. ❤️
Amazing 🙂
Thanks Petr! We are loving Colorado adventuring, and will def bring you more from that area in the future! ❤️
Very good congratulations ❤❤❤
Thanks Gerard! Such a fun adventure -- we're really loving Colorado in the winter! ❤️
Thanks for sharing. Elise, I bet you were glad to have your snow pants on while glissading, what would have been real cold otherwise.
Haha that's a great point, Kim! I felt way too hot when climbing, but the snow pants were absolutely perfect going down, and I wouldn't have missed that awesome glissade for anything! ❤️
Who says you can't hike in the Winter?! Good job you two.
Thanks Joseph! Exactly -- it just requires a little creativity!! ❤️
What a fun adventure! I use Mountain Forecast to try and predict the weather here in Colorado. It's often wrong, just like the weather you two encountered but you made the best of the situation. What a blast glissading down for you both. How did you get so many different angles of each of your glissades? It almost appeared that you climbed back up multiple times just to slide down and film a different vantage point. Elise, I never get tired of hearing your beautiful voice singing. Hope you two come back to Colorado soon.
Thanks so much, Vickie! Yes we use Mountain Forecast too, but often get foiled. Still, it worked out great and we def had fun with the snow. The only thing is it prevented us from going even higher to one of those other peaks, but that's ok it's just a reason to come back. Yes you are exactly right, we had so much fun glissading down that we climbed all the way back up just so we could do it again! ❤️
Freakin AWESOME 🎉🎉🎉😅
Thanks Jim! It really was a great time, and we are so looking forward to more CO adventures this summer and then again next winter!! ❤️
Welcome to Colorado. Usually debris on ice is vandals. Rock falls are less common.
Technically St Mary's Glacier is a Alice (semi-permanent snow and ice field)
I enjoy your vids.
We love getting your geology takes on these hikes!! Very interesting about the ice debris -- we felt super confident that it was rock fall, but now that you mention it it was kind of weird that it was pretty much all on that one side rather than being spread randomly throughout the ice. ❤️
A little ❄️ makes it for a fun hike!!
MN Dave!!
As usual, you guys rock!!
Definitely true, Dave -- snow plus steepness equals guaranteed fun! ❤️
@@LiveHardxLoveHard you know it!
After meeting both of you in 2022, I feel a sense that I'm your biggest fan!
@@davidolson558 Thanks man -- that really means a lot to us.
@@LiveHardxLoveHard thx to you both! ❤️
The glacier hike is high over 11000 ft .1.5 miles up.looks like enjoyable.
It was spectacular, David. Would have been nice to see all the distant views that were blocked by the snow storm, but was cool to experience the snow as well. ❤️
Great fun filled vlog as always guys. Heard that the makers of the next Tomb Raider movie are on the lookout for a Lara Croft ! Elise heading for the Red Carpet at the Oscars:)
😺😸 ❤
Haha that is definitely my dream scenario, John! Oscars, grammys, whatever -- I just want a free designer dress and someone great to do my hair 😂 --E
Looks fun! Watch out for those avalanches out that way, they have had many from what I've heard.
Yes thanks Harlan, there have been avalanches all over lately in Cali too -- we're a bit worried about it for this weekend's snowshoed adventure, but will make sure to keep it safe and turn around if it gets too dicey. ❤️
The ice axe is definitely adding to the Lara Croft vibes, Elise! But why do you only have microspikes instead of full-fledged crampons on sth. like this (especially given Adam's efforts at 5:17)? But those glissades look so much fun! I bet it took you very little time to get down...
Haha you are totally right, and we had the crampons in our packs at the time! To be fair, Adam did want to test the limits of the microspikes, and he definitely found them 😂. Meanwhile, I am totally channeling Lara Croft in 2024! ❤️ --E
The hint of disappointment in Elise’s voice as Adam narrowly avoids a fall…
Looked like fun! A bit of a sketchy glissade to top it off
Haha you definitely know me too well, Colby. I actually complained about it right after this, but I edited it out because it sounded too mean 😂 But seriously, he's like a 6-6 cat who somehow winds up on his feet EVERY time! ❤️ --E
@@LiveHardxLoveHard haha well here’s to hoping he takes a very gentle but embarrassing fall for you to enjoy. A fall on that ice though could have hurt!
You guys need to learn how to have some fun. ANOTHER great hike!
Haha thanks Steve -- ya we really did have a barrel of fun on this one. Not sure if you could tell from the edit, but we actually climbed back up just so we could slide down it again! ❤️
How cold 🥶 up there.
Actually it wasn't too bad -- not nearly as cold as that freezing Sky Pond hike last week! Maybe the clouds and snow coming in kept it a bit warmer that day, and also the lack of wind chill helped a lot. ❤️
Elise is the first song new? Very pretty tone. Is your music somewhere for purchase?
Yes Gary, it's brand new -- so happy you like it! A lot of the songs are up on Band Camp, and this one, which we're calling Snow Angels, will be up fairly soon as well. Thank you so much for the encouragement! ❤️ --E
Love this! What boots are you wearing?? Micro spikes?
Thanks Victoria! We're both wearing Salomon X-ultras, with Kahtoola microspikes. Along with poles for the steep glacier ascent, a perfect setup for this hike -- as long as you stay off the steep pure ice section where Adam almost lost it! ❤️
Thank you! From video it looks like you’re wearing some sort of knee high boot. Was just curious 😊🥾@@LiveHardxLoveHard
@@victoriawunderman9203 Oh those are gaiters -- they wrap around your calves and strap to the bottom of your boot in order to keep the snow out of your boots. They're very cheap and a great investment if you like hiking in the snow! ❤
Got it! I’m familiar with gators. Couldn’t tell what it was from video. Thank you for your replies and sharing your amazing adventures with us 😊🥾@@LiveHardxLoveHard
Left the rental car facility @ Denver airport in (April @ 73 deg) some years ago, showing my drivers license to the attendant he started laughing. I had to ask whats so funny? He said your from California. Not sure what he was so humored by until I woke up to 3 ft of snow, roads closed local TV telling people stay home if at all possible. Then I realized. If you don't like the weather in Colorado just wait 15 min :-)
Hahaha that is a great saying, and a great story to put the exclamation on it! We have def been learning that about CO as well the last couple of years -- especially with that crazy hailstorm that caught us coming down from Elbert! ❤️
What kind of workout strength Condition, do you guys do?
.
We've lately both been doing a lot of legs and core, because of the extra strain that snowshoes, crampons, post-holing, etc. puts our legs and hips and low backs in the winter. Have you seen the workout videos we've posted? They're in the "How we train" section on the channel, and give a pretty good idea of the different ways we strength train for these adventures. ❤️
Nothing like butt sliding down after a big hike up! Excellent snack spot A!!
Thank you! Ya I really liked that snack spot because we were literally staring down at the exact slope we were going to glissade. It didn't look that steep on camera, but in person it was definitely steep enough to give me some butterflies before the glissade! --A
Hi guys!!!! How are you!!!❤️
So far, so good, Cyndi -- 2024 has been a blast, and here's hoping it just keeps getting even better! Really hope that you're doing well too. ❤️
Weather, forecasters and economists are the only jobs where you can be wrong half the time and not get fired!
Haha so true! In fact, it seems like economists are wrong even more than weather forecasters! ❤️
Magic Rocks
Magic!
Brings back memories of summer hiking in the area. So different in winter with actual SNOW and a feel for what the glacier once was...in the summer it's pretty much gone now, good ole climate change 😢. Thanks for making this one!
So happy to share this and bring back those memories!! We have a similar disappearing glacier here with Palisades Glacier, and are definitely making sure to visit it and play around up there while we can before it's gone! ❤️
Omg with these ppl.
All good fun, Kylie! ❤️
Just looked at the photos from Rocky. Mount Audubon. So from there you are looking directly at Longs Peak. Over a big ridge is Wild Basin and Sand Beach Lake.
That's your hike. Not sure how you retrieve your car. Loop it.
That sounds excellent, and we can prob figure out a loop! ❤️
Obviously in the summer not winter. Basically you do not go into the main park. Unless going North of high road or Hallett/Canyon on west side of Longs.
Rocky is Like Charlie Brown compared to Teton and Yellowstone. Yellowstone is about Northeast. Running out of Mammoth/Gardiner or Cooke City. Gets you Electric to Barronette and Norris Basin. Tower, which begets Mount Washburn and North Rim Lower and Upper falls.
From Grant Village aka Lake Junction to Flagg Ranch in Teton is 30 miles. So you leave that way. Stopping at Old Faithful the last day. Or first day if coming from Teton.
Teton is about going in death canyon coming out cascade canyon. And it is small range so you can walk from Cascades back to your car. Park it at Roosevelt Center walk in from there. If allowed.
My favorite hike in the west was Barronette Peak. In Sunshine. Electric is good too. That whole area between it and Bunsen is a bowl also. They list it as bear management, but I went anyway. Gold Basin. Wild Basin. Alaska Basin. Yellowstone is an entire Basin/Caldera. See a pattern? Williamson Bowl/Basin. Dusy Basin. Rae Lakes. Basin. Golden Trout basically a basin.
I have hiked St Mary's. Always come prepares. I had to wear spikes when I was there. It's not called glacier for nothing.
That's a good point, Carolyn. The spikes were very helpful, and we were also really glad we brought the ice axes because even though we didn't need them on the way up they were essential for glissading down! ❤️
Can you two ski any or snow board.🤔
I can't ski well at all, David, and Adam can a little bit but isn't great either. However, it's something we def want to improve so we can do some ski mountaineering in the future! ❤️
Winter solitude.yes no one about .
Best thing about hiking these popular trails in winter! ❤️
Make sure you pay for parking (20$)
Ya that's a good point -- the parking wasn't cheap! But worth it. ❤️
Its Colorado wait a few minutes and it'll chamge
Haha that is definitely the theme, Bill! We should get lots more experience of that with a whole month in CO this summer and another next winter. Next time we're asking ourselves what clothing items to pack there, I guess we'll just say "pack all of them!" 😂
Dont become one of David Paulides Missing 411 stories.
Quite right -- we are very careful, even to the point of being a bit paranoid about avalanches because that is exactly what we want to avoid! ❤️