I saw two people get caught in a slide in the spring of 2003 right at St. Mary's too. We dug them out and they were fine. But that headwall is not to be trifled with!
As most people in Denver must already be aware, a hiker died west of St Mary's Glacier on May 30, 2004. He was caught, apparently unprepared, by a blast of wintery weather. He died at Lake Lamond at 11,700', a short distance from James Peak. Rocky Mountain News story here.
I saw two people get caught in a slide in the spring of 2003 right at St. Mary's too. We dug them out and they were fine. But that headwall is not to be trifled with!