Ice at West of Copperas Pillar

Long icicles frame West of Copperas Pillar during the final winter thaw, as lingering snow and ice disappear from the Red River Gorge.

Clifty Wilderness, Red River Gorge, Kentucky · Final winter thaw

Long icicles hanging beneath sandstone beside West of Copperas Pillar, surrounded by snow, rhododendron, and winter forest.

The story behind the photograph

On February 23, 2025, after spending a cold night with friends beside a warm campfire, Ryan led a day hike to several remote features that some members of the group had not seen before. The party included Ryan, Dan, Scott, Bill, and Dan’s son. Their destinations included West of Copperas Pillar, Scooter Arch, a small cave, and a vantage point of Sky Bridge. They began near the unofficial and barely traced Hopewell Arch Trail, then quickly left it for trail-less terrain. Temperatures rose to approximately 50 degrees as the season’s final snow and ice thawed rapidly. The long, extensive icicles at West of Copperas Pillar were likely more pronounced than under ordinary winter conditions because they were photographed during this final thaw.

Photographed: February 23, 2025
Location: Clifty Wilderness, Red River Gorge, Kentucky