Evening star., 1934-09-02
ITS ALWAYS COLD
| AT ice MOUNTAIN
Unusual Natural Wonder,
ia Miles Away, Known to
Few WaShingtonianS.
BY CAPT. A. C. sToTT, U. S. N.

ID OfAA L IA - . ~ u ~ - ~
One hundred and fourteen miles
from Washington, over fine roads
and through lovely scenery, lies an
unusual natural wonder that is ap-
parently as little known a few miles
away as it no doubt is to the majority
of Washington motorists.
"Ice Mountain" is marked on local
road maps, and if visited, as it re-
Gently was on one of the hottest days
of the year, will be found to be worthy
of its name.
About % miles west Of Winchester
on route so a new and excellent road
turns north at Hanging Rock and
becomes West Virginia route 20,
though not yet SO marked on all
maps, as the road is quite newly i'm
proved. Twelve miles north of the
junction a dirt road leads off to the
right, marked "Ice Mountain miles
North River Mills miles" Ap-
preaching from the north, by way of
Berkley Springs, this turn is 35 miles
south Of the springs.
Rough but PassabIe.
After leaving the main road there
are a couple of miles of country dirt
road, probable slippery when wet,
dusty and bit rough when dry, but
perfectly passable and wide enough
for comfort. At fork in the woods
2 miles down another sign, "Ice
Mountain" indicates narrow grass
grown lane that winds along mar
row hog-back, possibly glacial
moraine, which is barely wide enough
for the single track. After half q
mile of this a steep descent drops
sharply to the edge of a meadow 900
feet below the level of the main high
way.
Across the meadow rises the pre-
cipitous face of the mountain, tree
clad and green, save where the verti-
cal rocks near the top are too steep
for vegetation, and for slide of
broken stone at one point, under
which is found the ice that gives the
place its name.
Beyond the meadow the farm yard
of the owner of the property provides
convenient parking space for a mod
est fee, and a few steps lead to the
edge of little stream rippling along
the foot of the mountain. A narrow
foot bridge of rough hewn logs crosses
the stream and meets a path at the
foot Of the rocky slope.
Through Icy Air.
AS soon as this point is reached one
has the sensation of wading knee
deep in icy air. For perhaps 500
yards the lower face of the mountain
is steep tumbled slope of broken
stones. through every crack and
Granny of which pours a ceaseless
stream of ice-cold air, strong enough
TO rustic gently the leaves of plants
and shrubs growing among the rocks,
and so low in temperature that the
stones feel like ice to the hand and
are too cold to sit on in comfort.
If hole is dug by pulling away the
loose stones to depth of two or
three feet those at the bottom will
be found to be imbedded In ice. which
can be broken away in irregular
chunks and brought to the surface
with the fingers. All year around
year in and year out, ice is said to
have been found In this way since
the mountain was first discovered.
Down a natural gulley near the
center Of the loose rocky pile stream
OF crystal clear ice water flows into
the stream from a shallow well that
has been dug to make q drinking
place.
Flowers in Profusion.
On either side of the rocks a path
leads along beautiful vistas of the
little stream, through forest of almost
tropical thickness. with every evidence
of the presence in season of the count
less wild flowers that abound in this
part Of the country.
1t is truly a unique experience to
stand before normal looking noun
tainSide on a broiling Summer day,
and feel icy air pouring across ones
feet like the draft from an open re-
frigerator. What would such a hole
in the ground be worth in Washing
ton during the hot season?
Legend has it that the Indians used
this spot as a camp for the healing
Of those wounded in battle or in the
hunt. Scientists are said to have
searched in vain for the secret of the
mountain, and for the entrance to
the huge cavern that must exist
somewhere in its icy interior.