The Catskills Blog

Plattekill Tree Skiing Work Day 2022

Posted on by NYSkiBlog

Plattekill Mountain and NYSkiBlog are stoked to present the twelfth annual Plattekill Tree Skiing Work Day at the ski area in Roxbury NY on Saturday November 5th, 2022. Raindate will be Sunday the 6th.

Plattekill fall aerial photo

The tradition — first born in the mind of dedicated NY skier — lives on. We’re recruiting a motivated, smiling crew of lopper wielding powder hounds to continue our maintenance of some of the Catskills’ best tree skiing.

Our longterm goal is to clear as much terrain as possible under the legendary double chair. As regulars know, Plattekill is committed to helping skiers pursue their passion and find great lines all over the mountain.

free tree lines

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Tagged: Catskills, Earning Turns, Plattekill194 Comments

Platte Clove: Off-Trail in the Catskills

Posted on by Steve Aaron

Platte Clove in the northeast Catskills is among the wildest sections of the range. It’s a deep ravine created by ice age glaciers that drops about 1500 feet in little over two miles. The clove contains 17 separate waterfalls and is home to some of the Catskills’ most primeval terrain.

Platte Clove waterfalls
Lower waterfall

I joined my friend Bruce on the Friday before Labor Day weekend for an exploration of the southwest corner of the clove. As a frequent hiker through the clove, Bruce is an excellent guide — happy to point out areas of interest and equally as happy to explore remote corners of the clove. It’s potentially dangerous terrain, but with Bruce leading the way, I was in good hands.

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Tagged: Catskills, Hiking15 Comments

Lightning Strikes Plattekill

Posted on by Harvey

Just before 3pm on Tuesday July 12, intense “straight line” storms came through the Catskills. In Delaware County the weather was extreme for several minutes. At Plattekill, the storm passed and after that, at the end of the workday, employees went home. At 5:45 pm an alert neighbor saw smoke rising from the base of the ski area and called it in.

fire fighters

Based on the timing and nature of the storm, those on the ground believed that lightning struck the control shack, at the base of the double chair.  If so, it may have smoldered for a while, before it was seen and reported. For the moment, until the insurance company can make their official determination of cause, the shack ruins will stay where they lay.

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Tagged: Catskills, Plattekill7 Comments