St. Mary's Glacier

Yesterday we drove 45 minutes west to Saint Mary's Glacier. The Glacier is about 15 minutes past Idaho Springs, elevation 10,000 feet plus. Once to the parking area, it is a 1 mile hike -- up (of course) -- to the glacial lake.

Simon and Ella walked it. Oliver rode in the pack.

There was more snow than the kids have ever seen. Lots more.

Simon talks a lot about climbing mountains, and I assumed it was all four-year old talk that wouldn't actually amount to much. Wrong, wrong, wrong. He made pace most of the way. The path went around boulders at a few points... but not Simon. He tossed his walking stick over the boulder, then climbed over it himself. He couldn't get enough. He actually panicked when he realized we weren't hiking to the top of the mountain. Literally. The glacier was freezing cold, we were all panting from the thin air, and he was freaking out because we weren't going the extra 1000 feet to the top. Nuts.