The Snow Hole facts for kids
The Snow Hole is a special place in the Taconic Mountains of New York State, USA. It's like a deep crack in the ground, called a crevasse, where snow can stay frozen for a very long time. Sometimes, you can even find snow there in the middle of summer!
This cool spot is located between two mountains, Bald Mountain and White Rock (Taconic Mountains). Many people enjoy hiking to the Snow Hole to see this unusual natural wonder.
Finding The Snow Hole
You can reach The Snow Hole by hiking on the Taconic Crest Trail. The trail starts near the Petersburgh Pass parking area, which is off Route 2. From there, you hike about 2.75 miles north to find it.
It's good to know that some maps might show a different spot called "Snow Hole summit." But that's a different mountain top. The real Snow Hole, where the snow stays, is correctly marked on the hiking map at the Petersburgh Pass trail start.
History and Visitors
People have been visiting The Snow Hole for a very long time. You can see their names and dates carved into the rocks around the area. Some of these carvings are from the 1800s! The oldest one found is from the early 19th century. These carvings show that The Snow Hole has been a popular and interesting place for many generations.
What Makes It Special
The Snow Hole is a great example of a "nivation hollow." This is a type of landform created by snow and ice. The snow collects in a dip or hollow, and over time, it helps to shape the land around it.
Other places in the world also have snow that lasts a long time, like some snow patches in Scotland. These areas are important because they can be home to special plants and animals that love cold weather. Scientists think The Snow Hole might have been a "refugium" (pronounced reh-FYOO-jee-um). This means it was a safe place where small ice age animals could live when the rest of the area got warmer. It's like a natural refrigerator that kept them safe!
