St. Mary's Glacier faces record-low summer snow levels in Colorado

St. Mary's Glacier, a perennial snowfield in Colorado, is experiencing record-low snow levels mid-summer, leading local enthusiasts to fear it may become un-skiable for the first time in recorded history.

Historically, the snowfield has persisted through the summer months, providing a destination for summer skiing competitions and local recreation. While the site has fluctuated in size over the decades, long-time visitors note that the current depletion is significantly worse than in previous years, even during late-summer periods.

Scientists classify the site as a perennial snowfield—a remnant of the glaciers that shaped the Rocky Mountains—rather than a true glacier. The shrinking of the snowfield is cited as part of a broader global trend affecting glaciers and snowfields.