In a typical cave entrance in the winter, cold air flows in along the floor and warm air flows out along the ceiling. When conditions are right, this cools the floor below freezing and warms the ceiling above. If nature adds dripping water, ice stalagmites grow. The people on the winter beginners' trip saw a number of these ephemeral beauties this year.
Peter Todd looking at ice stalagmites in the entrance of Mount Nemo Water Cave, ON. (Photo by Kirk MacGregor 24 February 2008)
Kirk MacGregor (in yellow hat) and Peter Todd (in blue hat) photographing ice in Mount Nemo Water Cave, ON. Peter is holding a remote flash to backlight the ice. (Photo by Dawn Xiao 24 February 2008)
Growth and decay: A small ice stalagmite grows amid the fallen leaves. (Photo by Dawn Xiao 24 February 2008)
Frozen art. (Photo by Dawn Xiao 24 February 2008)
Ice stalagmites about 1/2 m high in the entrance to Mount Nemo Water Cave, ON. (Photo by Dawn Xiao 24 February 2008)
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