Platte Clove
![A narrow divide between two steep forest-covered mountainsides viewed from high above, with a tree, branches and leaves framing the view on the top and left. In the rear the land becomes flat, tinted blue at the horizon](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/East_view_over_Platte_Clove%2C_NY.jpg/325px-East_view_over_Platte_Clove%2C_NY.jpg)
Platte Clove, sometimes Plattekill Clove, is a narrow and steep valley in the Catskill Mountains of New York.
The valley is situated between Kaaterskill High Peak and Roundtop Mountain to the north and Plattekill Mountain and Indian Head Mountain to the south. It is mostly in Greene County, although the lowest, eastern portions are in Ulster County. The stream that runs below is called Plattekill Creek.
A few hiking trails go through the Clove including
Geography
Along with
The cliffs near the clove's head-wall have views of the nearby waterfalls – but have also been the site of fatal accidents. The area of Platte Clove known as Devil's Kitchen got its name due to the fact that the region is exceedingly difficult and dangerous for hikers. It runs from the top of the Platte Clove valley down into West Saugerties. The area is known to have a lot of timber rattlesnakes and northern copperheads. The south side is known to have hollow ground where a person can fall through the ground into rock crevices. There are places where one can pull back a conifer branch and find a drop of over 100'. In one hiking accident a man died in a place called Hell's Hole, and it took emergency medical services personnel three days to remove his body.[1]
History
In the early 19th century, early American artists were struck by the rugged, wild scenery of the clove and other locations in the northeastern Catskills. Depictions of this wilderness by Thomas Cole and others led to the artists being dubbed the Hudson River School.
In winter 1970 the body of a man was found on the slopes 50 feet (15 m) below Platte Clove Road a short distance past where it is closed at that time of year, near West Saugerties just short of the Greene County line. He carried no documents that would have identified him. The cause of death four gunshot wounds inflicted two days earlier; police believe he was killed elsewhere and disposed of in Platte Clove. His clothing and other items led them to theorize that he was from outside the U.S., possibly Europe or Brazil, and had possibly been lured to the country to be killed by organized crime without attracting too much attention in his native country; some local mobsters were interviewed about the case but did not provide any information. He remains unidentified; the New York State Police continue to investigate the case under the name West Saugerties John Doe.[2]
In 2010, a man from the Albany suburb of Delmar lost his footing near one and fell 100 ft (30 m) to his death.[3] On June 4 of the same year, Olivia Rose Belfiglio fell 100 feet from the top of a cliff and died at the bottom.
Hiking
Hiking trails that run through the area are Devil's Path and Huckleberry Point Trail. The Long Path, a 357 mi (575 km) long-distance hiking trail that starts near the George Washington Bridge and ends in Albany, is contiguous with these trails. It comes from the south via Devil's Path, continues on the Overlook Trail, heads south on Platte Clove Road for 860 ft (262 m) and then heads north on Huckleberry Point Trail.
Bicycle racing
The area is known for its bicycle racing traditions. The steepest section, which ascends up the side of the area called Devil's Kitchen, starts at the corner of Becker Road in West Saugerties and climbs 1,200 vertical feet (366 m) in 2.2 miles (3.54 km) into
References
- ^ "Catskillmountaineer.com Forum • View topic – Death at Devil's Kitchen". www.catskillmountaineer.com. Retrieved 2018-09-14.
- ^ Yakin, Heather (September 25, 2016). "Unsolved: Police still working West Saugerties case". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
- Journal Register Company. Retrieved May 2, 2010.
- ^ "Bicycle directions with elevation gain". Google Maps. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
- ^ a b B, Jen (2010-08-02). "Frenchman Wins Tour of Catskills; Landis Ties for 11th". Benepe's Bike Blog (c). Retrieved 2018-09-13.
- ^ "Tour of the Catskills". facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
- http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/06/06/news/doc4c0b22efc0df3258112272.txt
- http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2010/09/15/news/doc4c904d90c4882152986556.txt
- http://www.catskillmountaineer.com/forums/phpBB-3.0.5/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=174&sid=79e999fd184425927bac63e601ee51b8
- http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/17-Year-Old-Upstate-Girl-Dies-Hiking-in-Catskills-95683214.html
- http://www.poststarnews.com/obituaries/x1980739104/Olivia-Rose-Belfiglio