Lori McClenahan, President and CEO, St. Elias Mines Ltd. (SLI -

TSX:V) announced today that the Company's 2011 exploration program at the Tesoro Gold Project in

southwestern Peru is progressing, according to plan, with the commencement of an extensive trenching

program.

"We are excited as we continue to systematically explore the Tesoro Gold Project. Results from surface

exploration, underground development and geophysics to date highlight the significant potential to

extend existing resources and discover new resources. We look forward with enthusiasm in anticipation

of future results" stated the Company's President and CEO, Lori McClenahan.

The trenching program has been designed to confirm the direction, size and continuity of the mineralized

structures and to delineate additional drilling targets. In conjunction with the trenching program, St.

Elias will be commencing its 2011 drilling program. In an effort to increase the pace of trenching, the

Company will utilize both local labor and mechanized trenching methods.

The trenching program will concentrate on the following three main targets:

high-priority near-surface geophysical targets identified by Titan 24 Geophysical Surveys

conducted by Quantec Geoscience Limited;

areas along strike and in between known mineralized veins in the Main Structural Corridor; and

on the recently identified Parallel Structural Corridor.