Ice Mountain

The Nature Conservancy purchased 159 acres of Ice Mountain in 1989 to protect the mountain's vents and plant species. The National Park Service last week recognized the conservancy's efforts in officially dedicating Ice Mountain as a National Natural Landmark.  But even with the conservancy's work, the unique features of Ice Mountain are in danger.  Prior to this year, the earliest the temperature from a vent had gone above 35 degrees Fahrenheit was May 16, 2011. This year, he recorded a temperature of about 2 degrees Celsius, or 35.5 degrees Fahrenheit, on April 25.  Warmer temperatures from the vents earlier in the year could affect the life cycle of many of the mountain's plants.  (All this borrowed from Martinsburg Journal, 10/1/2012)