Kaaterskill High Peak Hike – Aug 29 - Some Lessons Learned – Day 2

[Jim Kennard]

Sunday, a clear blue sky, and the perfect day to hike out to Huckleberry Point and check out the view of the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson Valley followed by a hike up Kaaterskill High Peak.

Hike Plan: Park in the Platte Cove PA. Hike 1 mile up the blue marked trail to the yellow marked trail leading east to Huckleberry Point. Return to the blue marked trail (Long Path) and follow it north for several miles to where it begins to flatten out at an elevation of 3000 ft. Bushwhack due west for approximately ¼ mile to reach the snowmobile trail. Follow this trail around to the southwest of KHP and find the unmanned trail to Hurricane Ledge and then to the summit of Kaaterskill HP. Return by the same routes following the blue marked trail to the PA.

It was mid morning when my brother-in-law and I arrived at the Platte Cove PA. There were already 6 cars in the parking area. We headed up the trail at a leisurely pace to Huckleberry Point passing several groups of hikers that were returning. Just past the area of the high ground, which was one time a lookout post, we spotted a load of bluestone lying against an old tree. Perhaps a wagon or slay with its heavy cargo tipped over depositing the stone in this location never to be retrieved. We arrived at Huckleberry
Point around noon and had it all to ourselves for the next hour as we had lunch and took in the fantastic views.

Upon returning to the Long Path, my brother-in-law headed back down the trail to the PA while I started my journey up to KHP. It was mid afternoon but this looked like a easy hike to me walking up and onto ski mobile trails with a short climb to the top of the mountain……piece of cake !!! Two days later, Laurie Rankin remarked to me that “KHP may be one of the most under rated mountains in the Catskills”. I was going to find that out very soon. The blue trail up to KHP is somewhat rocky with areas that take you, at times, through dense pine forest. There were some muddy spots but for the most part things had been drying up since the monsoon that hit the area a week before. When I reached the 3000 ft elevation point the trail levels out and there was a cairn marking the point where I had determined to do a bushwhack over to the snowmobile trail. OH Happy Day, I thought, I don’t even have to work at this. However, within a hundred yards or so, I lost the now not so evident herd path. Compass in hand, I did my own bushwhacking the rest of the way to the snowmobile trail that wraps around Kaaterskill HP Mountain. This trail is fairly flat but was muddy in places. I followed it around to the southwest of KHP looking for signs of the unmanned trail up to Hurricane Ledge. And there it was, you can’t miss it, with the 3 foot high cairn at the intersection of the trail I was following and the old unmanned trail. From this point to the summit of KHP is another 655 ft and within a very short distance the trail turns into a cliff climb. I followed the old blue markers the best I could but lost them several times causing me to make my own decision on the best way up. I absolutely would not recommend this trail for small adults, children, or dogs. I moved along pretty good up the cliff but was also very concerned that I was hiking alone and if I happen to slip and fall here it could be a life threatening disaster for me. When I reached Hurricane Ledge I was ready for a cold Hurricane Kitty to celebrate making up the cliff without an incident. The view from the ledge is another great one and I took a break for a few minutes to enjoy the panorama before me and take some pictures. The summit is to the north from this point and not more than a ¼ mile. Arriving there I noticed that a cairn was constructed in an open area marking the high point of KHP. At the base of the cairn are the remains of an airplane wing.

For the return down the mountain I was now concerned about going down the cliff face which could be a bit more difficult than going up. I like to stay with the original hike plan so that in case I don’t return back home within a reasonable time that others know the route that I was following. But, safety was even more important now. I looked at the trail map and decided that the north route looked like a better way down even though the trail back would be longer, I would be safer that way. I followed what I thought was the herd path trail to the north but it took me to a ledge on the east side of KHP. There the view up and down the Hudson Valley was spectacular. I took some more pics. Then I looked for the trail down from this point. There was none. The cliff was 200 ft above the floor of the trees below. Now I started to get a little concerned as I had just a few more hours of daylight. I had to find a way down near here. I was thinking, now what would Bear Grylls (Man vs. Wild) do in this situation? I actually carry 100 ft of parachute cord with me so I could use it to scale down the mountain like he would do. But, before resorting to that, I moved around to the south and finally found an area where the trees had grown up on the steep cliff face. I felt somewhat like a monkey reaching from tree to tree but I soon made it to the first plateau below the cliff. I was surprised to see recent skid tracks and foot prints from someone else that had come this way too, and very recently. I was bushwhacking off the east side of KHP. This was the first of 3 or 4 more cliffs to negotiate down. I would advise anyone thinking of coming up this way to forget it as it will be much harder to ascend and plow though the heavy growth in this area to get to the summit of KHP. No time will be saved this way. Finally, I reached the snowmobile trail. Should I bushwhack though to the blue trail? No, it was getting darker and if I had an accident in that area no one would find me there. I decided to follow the snowmobile trail to the blue trail even though it would add at least another mile, but I would be one a known trail. Reaching the blue trail, the sun was now very low in the sky and I still had +3 more miles to go. I moved along quickly but one can only go so fast on a rock strewn trail. Every time that I would go into the heavily pine forested portions of the trail I would loose a lot of light making the trail markers very hard to see. I had a light with me but choose to not use it until I could not see the trail ahead of me. Once past the heavy pine growth areas I could faintly see the blue trail as I went past the yellow trail to Huckleberry Point. If this had been a cloudy night the light would have disappeared much sooner. By the time I reached the Platte Cove parking area, I could just barely see the trail.

Driving back to my brother-in-laws house in Saugerties, I had time to reflect on some of the mistakes and lessons that I learned the hard way this day. I had made some similar mistakes that I had read about from other hikers in one of my favorite books, Catskill Peak Experiences. I should have known better.

FIRST: I made some assumptions about KHP by looking at a map and not checking with others that have done this hike before.
SECOND: I started too late in the day (mid afternoon).
THIRD: Trying to do too much in one day. I should have saved Huckleberry Point for a separate day.
FORTH: I should have had another person along on this hike.

Lessons learned. I’ll be more careful the next time out. Good hiking – Cheers, Jim

Kaaterskill HP pics

[TFR]

Good report! Learning is good, as long as it does not lead to hard knocks.

[CatskillKev]

Sounds like quite the adventure, Jim! One of those you're glad to be back to civilization. Kaaterskill's a cliffy one.

[Ixy]

Originally Posted by Jim Kennard

For the return down the mountain I was now concerned about going down the cliff face which could be a bit more difficult than going up. I like to stay with the original hike plan so that in case I don’t return back home within a reasonable time that others know the route that I was following. But, safety was even more important now. I looked at the trail map and decided that the north route looked like a better way down even though the trail back would be longer, I would be safer that way. I followed what I thought was the herd path trail to the north but it took me to a ledge on the east side of KHP. There the view up and down the Hudson Valley was spectacular. I took some more pics. Then I looked for the trail down from this point. There was none. The cliff was 200 ft above the floor of the trees below. Now I started to get a little concerned as I had just a few more hours of daylight. I had to find a way down near here. I was thinking, now what would Bear Grylls (Man vs. Wild) do in this situation? I actually carry 100 ft of parachute cord with me so I could use it to scale down the mountain like he would do. But, before resorting to that, I moved around to the south and finally found an area where the trees had grown up on the steep cliff face. I felt somewhat like a monkey reaching from tree to tree but I soon made it to the first plateau below the cliff. I was surprised to see recent skid tracks and foot prints from someone else that had come this way too, and very recently. I was bushwhacking off the east side of KHP. This was the first of 3 or 4 more cliffs to negotiate down. I would advise anyone thinking of coming up this way to forget it as it will be much harder to ascend and plow though the heavy growth in this area to get to the summit of KHP. No time will be saved this way. Finally, I reached the snowmobile trail.

It does look like that's the way back down. The Northern trail starts on the other side of the summit rock, which is almost a right-angle from the Southern trail. I can tell you it's much easier than the route you took. On the North side the trail is fairly obvious and not so steep as the Southern one. There's even the occasional blue paint blaze on the rock.

When I was up there I ran into two guys who told me there was a ledge it was impossible to get down from on the other side. They went up the North side before I did. I checked out that great view and can't imagine taking the route from it that you did. It was steep and slippery enough getting down to the view. I took the South way down Hurricane Ledge, which was a little tough in parts but I didn't think it was all that bad a way down. I'm saying that after having slid down some of those ledges on my butt.

I don't think going down the mountain on 550 cord is a good idea. If that stuff does break, you'd be totally screwed. If it were Bear Gryllis up there he'd probably free the wrecked plane near the peak and glide back to the trailhead. Or am I thinking of McGuyver.

Great report of your crazy KHP adventure!

I have to say I've never seen a cairn built on airplane wreckage before.

[daLunartik]

I have very distinct memories of being perched on a little rock outcropping on one of those eastern cliffs and thinking bad, very bad, very bad idea....

With the exception of the herd paths on Big Indian and Leavitt Peak (SW Hunter), I think those few hundred feet from the Long Path to the Snowmobile trail is the longest herd path you'll see in the Catskills.

[rockysummit]

Excellent report and pics Jim. KHP is definitely rugged in places especially those last few hundred feet. You gotta get back there this winter!

[Jim Kennard]

I'll be back !!!

[mountainmeijin]

I remember doing KHP. It certainly has a few nail-biting moments. Well worth it, of course!

In winter, I wouldn't even try the Southern route because of those chutes right below Hurricane Ledge. If you fall there...well, you know now.

[Mikie]

The westerly route is the easiest and the shortest. Since it is only used by locals, it doesn't see a lot of use. You can catch it from Gillespie Road. You can cross-country ski up most sections. The south route is the hardest.

[Hiker41]

Jim, I'm planning to hike KHP this fall. Did you see any tent sites up there between 3000 -3499 Ft ? Would love to spend a night up there and spend more time up top to admire all the views. Thanks...

[Jim Kennard]

I did not see any previous campsites, perhaps others more familiar with the area may have some recommendations. You won't have any view until you get up to the top of KHP. (Note: No camping allowed up on top) However, I did find an area that looked like a nice place for a campsite just a few hundred yards along side the herd path that is a short cut to the snowmobile trail. There is a cairn at the 3000 ft area that marks this herd path. See the pics for what it looks like. It is very obvious. Cheers, Jim

[Jay H]

That cairn though at the southern end of the snowmobile trail is more like 5'5" or so cause it's as tall as me..

Jay