Hunter Mtn SOLD!

On November 30, 2015 Peak Resorts has acquired Hunter Mountain for $36.8 Million. Click image for more details (Nov 30)

Leaf Foliage Report

Catskill Mountains

1,000'+ 100% changed - 90% Fallen
2,400'+ 100% changed - 100% Fallen
3,500'+ 100% changed - 100% Fallen
Leaf Browning: Moderate to significant this year
2009 Image: Platte Clove Valley
Click image for more details (Oct 31)

Brush Fire

Haines Falls Department and DEC were called to North-South Lake for a reported brush fire on the North-Lake Trail. Click image for more details (Sept 9)

Esopus Drowning

On Saturday, September 5, 2015, a 14-year-old girl from Connecticut drown while tubing on the Esopus Creek with her father. She was pulled into in a Strainer (Log Jam) in the Town of Shandaken. Click image for more details (Sept 5)

White Fungus Disease

Very few people are aware that Timber Rattlesnakes have also been affected by a similar fungal disease that bats have been battling for the past decade. Rattlesnakes die more in the summer, then the winter. But, the mortality rate is high. This fungus also affects other snake species. Click image for more details (Aug 27)

Kaaterskill Falls Injuries

On Thursday August 27, 2015, a 70-year-old male hiker was injured between Bastion Falls and Kaaterskill falls. Kaateskill Falls is closed except for the hike to the bottom of the Falls. Click image for more details (Aug 27)

Kaaterskill Falls Injuries

On Friday July 24, 2015, a 28-year-old female hiker was injured at the bottom of Kaaterskill Falls. The fire department and rescue squad were called to help the hiker. She had a lower leg injury. On Sunday July 26, 2015 another hiker was injured at the bottom of Kaaterskill Falls. They were injured on Sunday morning, and local EMS assisted the hiker. Kaateskill Falls is closed except for the hike to the bottom of the Falls. The DEC expects to have the construction project completed by the end of the summer. . Click image for more details (July 27)

Platte Clove Accident

On Thursday, July 2, 2015, a Highliner in the Platte Clove fell a total of 70 feet when the nylon slackline came undone or broke. After a very difficult extraction, he was transported to Albany Medical Center by helicopter in serious condition. Click image for more details (July 2)

Kaaterskill Falls Closed

On Monday July 6, 2015, the DEC will be closing the upper part of Kaaterskill Falls for the rest of the summer. This includes parking at the bottom of Laurel House Road. The DEC will start an extensive construction project. This includes enlarging two parking lots for an additional 100 cars; Steps to the top of the Falls. Bridge over Lake Creek; Observation Deck; Trail to the Escarpment Trail. Hiking in the construction zone will result in a ticket by the DEC. This $450k project is to promote tourism and increase safety. Please Note: The trail from Rt 23a to the base of Kaaterskill Falls will be open, but everything else is closed until the completion of the project. Click image for more details (July 2)

New KF Parking Lot

The DEC has started construction for the new parking lot at the bottom of Laurel House Road and at the top of Kaaterskill Falls. There will be enough space for about 100 cars. This should increase traffic to Kaaterskill Falls. Click image for more details (Jun 22)

Deer Tick Alert

Due to the snow pack this past Winter, deer ticks were predicted to be abundant. Those predictions have come true. Deer ticks on the eastern part of the Catskills is the worst in history. Care needs to be taken if outside. Click image for more details (May 25)

Kaaterskill Falls

On Wednesday, May 20, 2015 Haines Falls Fire Department was called to Kaaterskill Falls for a hiker injury. The female hiker was transported from the bottom of Kaaterskill Falls to the hospital. Click image for more details (May 20)

Fire Ban

New York State has extended the fire ban for another week. Right now you cannot burn brush or have a camp fire until May 21, 2015. All of NYS is still under a HIGH fire alert. There have been over 110 forest fires in the last month. Click image for more details (May 14)

Malden Ave Issues

Once again the issues of local resident erecting illegal No Parking signs on the closed and open section of Malden Ave in Palenville is becoming an public issue. Some local residents are determined to drive hikers out of the Catskill Mtns. Click image for more details (May 8)

Hunter Mtn Forest Fire

A forest fire on the south side of Hunter Mountain started about noon-time on May 7th. Within a couple of hours around 200 acres had burned. It started between Lanesville and the Deep Notch (DEC campground). Click image for more details (May 7)

Kaaterskill Falls Safety

The DEC has announced that they have a proposal for changes to the Kaaterskill Unit Management Plan ("UMP"). The purpose of the plan is to improve safety at Kaaterskill Falls. Over the past 200 years there has been over 200 deaths at Kaaterskill Falls. Kaaterskill Falls are considered one of the most deadly waterfalls in the world. Many believe the new UMP is poor, and will cause more deaths then normal at Kaaterskill Falls. The DEC also refused to work with the DOT in getting people off Rt 23a, and refuses to address of hikers walking down Rt 23a. The DEC made it clear that they want to spend as little money as possible. Click image for more details (May 7)

Fire Danger Alert

With very little rain in the past month, the forest of the Catskill Mountains are very dry. The Gunks had a massive forest fire with over 2400 acres burned. Other small forest fires have been popping up. Click image for more details (May 5)

Injury at Hunter Mtn

On March 24, 2015 a 48 year old man skied off a trail and was seriously injured. He was transported to Albany Medical Center in Albany NY. No word on his condition. Click image for more details (Mar 24)

Death at Hunter Mtn

About 2pm on Sunday, December 28, 2014 a 44-year-old woman from New York City fell off the chair lift at Hunter Mountain. She died of her injuries from the fall. Click image for more details (Dec 28)