Long Path - Platte Clove Road to Malden Ave - 23A

[Snickers]

Joe and I decide to go up and hike in the Catskills on Saturday, so I was looking for something different and came up with the above. Looking at the trail on the map it looks to be an easy hike with some nice waterfalls and pretty views out over South Mountain and North South Lakes. Started the day with breakfast at Sweet Sue's, I thking that is why I like hiking in the Catskills, all trails lead to Swee Sue's. :) After a great breakfast and a muffin for the trail we were off to spot our cars. Finally started walking the trail close to 10:00AM, the trail was wet going up and really wet and muddy on the top. Looked like there was a vechicle recently up the trail, sure enough two ATV's were parked where the trail turns off to the right. Looked like hunters and we later heard some shots. It was a pretty day and mild temps, the trail looked like a stream for most of the day, should have worn the winter boots, not the trail runners, my feet were soon soaking wet, good thing it was warm out. A nice sized deer went darting across the trail in front of us, didn't see if it was a buck or not. Finally reached Buttermilk Falls, water was running great. We posed for some pictures and explored up stream to a higher, smaller fall, which was fun and pretty then off to the next fall. Wildcat Falls was pretty and running nice with great views of the Hudson Valley, took some neat pics there too. We decided not to hike down to Poet's Ledge, saved it for another day. Walking down the old road was interesting, many little waterfalls running down the side of the cliffs due to all the rain the night before, some really pretty rock formations and Kaaterskill Creek was running nice. This especially interested Joe who is a white water kayaker!! Needless to say we had to go creek exploring when we reached the car. It was a really pretty hike with some great company!! Thanks for a great day Joe!!

Happy Trails!

[mudhook]

Sounds like a nice section of trail. I don't know that area very well, being its "down mountain", but it looks interesting from the road. That, and the other side of the Clove are on my do it list.

[MattC]

Clove to clove. Nice. The flats on that trail are always wet. I've been up from both sides, but never did the whole end to end. Have to try that sometime.

Matt

[Jay H]

Matt, let me know when you want to do the end to end... especially now that Rt 23C appears to be open.

I've never been to Poet's Ledge and the three waterfalls were fairly dry when I went by them many years ago...

Jay

[MattC]

Matt, let me know when you want to do the end to end... especially now that Rt 23C appears to be open.

I've never been to Poet's Ledge and the three waterfalls were fairly dry when I went by them many years ago...

Jay

Would you be interested in bagging KHP in the course of doing that end-to-end? Maybe next weekend? How's that for a stupid idea? Real long hike at the time of year w/ the shortest days!

How about this-leave a car at the Palenville lot at about 7. Drive up to Platte Clove and start a-walkin'. Tag KHP from the north side, check out Hurricane Ledge, come back down the north side and continue on the LP. Check out whatever waterfalls there is time for. Head down to Poet's Ledge if there is time and then head back up to the LP and out. Head lamps would probably be out at this point-no big deal. Especially since the last part of the hike is on roads.

Apologies to Snickers for jackin' the thread to make crazy plans.

Matt

[Jay H]

Matt, I think it would make more sense to go north to south then, especially with the climb to KHP from the north. I have a secondary reason for this too, is that I'd like to check out Poet's ledge since the first time my friend and I did KHP from Palenville, we skipped it due to a raging thunderstorm on our descent.

We when we do KHP from the north and then back down to the snowmobile trail, we can gauge how much daylight we have and we can decide either to hike down to Platte Clove or back to Palenville.

Jay

[MattC]

Matt, I think it would make more sense to go north to south then, especially with the climb to KHP from the north. I have a secondary reason for this too, is that I'd like to check out Poet's ledge since the first time my friend and I did KHP from Palenville, we skipped it due to a raging thunderstorm on our descent.

We when we do KHP from the north and then back down to the snowmobile trail, we can gauge how much daylight we have and we can decide either to hike down to Platte Clove or back to Palenville.

Jay


I'm okay w/ North to South as well. We can discuss more next week.

[Snickers]

You should have plenty of time to tag KHP. We were out by 3:00PM and that was with taking our time and exploring. The hike up the north side of KHP is relatively short and an easy scramble from the snowmobile trail. The thought crossed my mind too when getting to the turnoff. :) That's cool on jackin the thread; I am glad to see the hike interest others. It was a really nice hike, very enjoyable day. Let me know how your trip goes.

Happy Trails!!!

[rockysummit]

Hey Snickers, nice report. I too am not very familiar with that area but should check it out. I heard from Mudhook that you found good use of a couple of the photos from last year's trip through the Neversink. Glad you can enjoy the Catskills, even at work!

[Snickers]

Hey Rockysummit, Yeah, thanks for the photos!!! I love the Neversink, think it is my favorite spot up there. I want to do a backpack in there this winter, find a nice camp spot and just explore around. Sometime after the first of the year; any takers???