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Hiker dies in Platte Clove Ravine

Posted: Thu Oct 17, 2019 2:54 pm
by dave
Platte Clove in the Town of Hunter in Greene County

Wilderness Recovery: On Oct. 6 at 4 p.m., Forest Rangers Mark Brand, Kenneth Gierloff, and Christine Nelson responded to a search for a missing 50-year-old male in Platte Clove. Based on information provided by a friend, the man was dropped off on Platte Clove Road and planned to hike down to the Plattekill Creek, camp, and then hike through to meet a friend at Saugerties Bridge on Becker Road. Using this information, Forest Rangers began a search of Plattekill Creek. At 7:33 p.m., Forest Rangers located the hiker deceased in the town of Hunter approximately 1.25 miles upstream from Becker Road. Forest Rangers Nelson and Gierloff secured the scene overnight. New York State Police (NYSP) and DEC's Bureau of Environmental Crime Investigations (BECI) were notified. On Oct. 7 at 6 a.m., NYSP and Forest Rangers began investigating the scene and recovering the subject. A technical rope system was set up on Platte Clove Road and involved multiple high and steep angle rope systems over the course of approximately 700 feet of elevation gain. Seventeen Forest Rangers from Regions 3, 4, and 5 completed this mission. The man was successfully recovered and turned over to the coroner at approximately 5 p.m.

At this time we do not know who the hiker is. We should also comment that hikers should not hike alone in the dangerous cloves in the Catskill Mountains. These cloves are very dangerous, and it is easy to be injured or killed. It is also safer to hike the Platte Clove from the bottom to the top, and to avoid climbing Devil's Kitchen. Over 200 people have been killed in the clove over the years. Very easy to die there.