Death in the Platte Clove
Posted: Sun Jul 31, 2011 1:15 pm
Late Saturday afternoon, a 27-year-old Kingston man fall off a water fall in the Platte Clove. He has been identified as Alec Mangiaracina of Kingston, NY. He was hiking with his fiance on a hiking trail on the east side of the clove. It was reported that the trail was the one from the Little Red House on Catskill Center property. This trail takes you from Platte Clove Road down to the base of Plattekill Falls. You can see the hike here: http://www.catskillmountaineer.com/KM-Uplatte.html
From our information, we believe that he might have fallen off Bridal Veil Falls, which is about 90' high. It is the highest waterfall in the Platte Clove. I might add that getting down to the top of either Plattekill Falls or Bridal Veil Falls is VERY dangerous. And, it should not be attempted without a rope, harness, and good training.
It is our understanding that both people were novice hikers. The trail down to Plattekill Falls is fairly safe when you stay on the trail. But, both of these people ventured off the trail to some very dangerous locations. It is very difficult to get a good view over the Platte Clove from the Catskill Center Trail and surrounding area. This prompts people to get too close to the edge of the dangerous Hell's Hole. This has led to numerous deaths over the years.
It was reported that he fell 50-60' to the bottom of the falls where there are large rocks and very small water basins. We believe that if he fall off Bridal Veil Falls, he probably fell closer to 90'. He died at the bottom of the Falls. They had climbed down the dangerous bank to the top of the falls to take pictures of the clove.
Update: (8/4) Funeral Information: http://www.holcombefisher.com/obits/obi ... bitid=2070
NYS Police Report:
The New York State Police at Catskill report the death of a hiker who fell from a trail in the town of Hunter, Greene County, NY. At approximately 7:00PM on Saturday 07/30/11, ALEC G. MANGIARACINA, age 27, of Kingston, NY had been hiking on a trail on the east side of the Platte Clove Gorge with his fiancé. As the two approached an area at the top of a waterfall they stopped to take pictures. As MANGIARACINA approached the edge of the waterfall he lost his footing and fell approximately 50 – 60 feet to the water and rocks below. Rescuers from the Tannersville rescue squad, Tannersville Fire Dept., Centerville Fire Dept., Hunter Fire Dept., and the Haines Falls Fire Dept. responded to the scene however MANGIARACINA succumbed to his injuries at the scene. MANGIARACINA and his fiancé were novice hikers who hadn’t hiked that area of Platte Clove Gorge before. Investigation was conducted by the NYSP, the Town of Hunter Police Department, and the DEC. An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday.
Here are some pictures of the area:
Bridal Veil Falls from across Hell's Hole - 90' high
Plattekill Falls from the end of the Catskill Center Trail - 60-70' high
Ledge on the north side of Hell's Hole
More details to come.
From our information, we believe that he might have fallen off Bridal Veil Falls, which is about 90' high. It is the highest waterfall in the Platte Clove. I might add that getting down to the top of either Plattekill Falls or Bridal Veil Falls is VERY dangerous. And, it should not be attempted without a rope, harness, and good training.
It is our understanding that both people were novice hikers. The trail down to Plattekill Falls is fairly safe when you stay on the trail. But, both of these people ventured off the trail to some very dangerous locations. It is very difficult to get a good view over the Platte Clove from the Catskill Center Trail and surrounding area. This prompts people to get too close to the edge of the dangerous Hell's Hole. This has led to numerous deaths over the years.
It was reported that he fell 50-60' to the bottom of the falls where there are large rocks and very small water basins. We believe that if he fall off Bridal Veil Falls, he probably fell closer to 90'. He died at the bottom of the Falls. They had climbed down the dangerous bank to the top of the falls to take pictures of the clove.
Update: (8/4) Funeral Information: http://www.holcombefisher.com/obits/obi ... bitid=2070
NYS Police Report:
The New York State Police at Catskill report the death of a hiker who fell from a trail in the town of Hunter, Greene County, NY. At approximately 7:00PM on Saturday 07/30/11, ALEC G. MANGIARACINA, age 27, of Kingston, NY had been hiking on a trail on the east side of the Platte Clove Gorge with his fiancé. As the two approached an area at the top of a waterfall they stopped to take pictures. As MANGIARACINA approached the edge of the waterfall he lost his footing and fell approximately 50 – 60 feet to the water and rocks below. Rescuers from the Tannersville rescue squad, Tannersville Fire Dept., Centerville Fire Dept., Hunter Fire Dept., and the Haines Falls Fire Dept. responded to the scene however MANGIARACINA succumbed to his injuries at the scene. MANGIARACINA and his fiancé were novice hikers who hadn’t hiked that area of Platte Clove Gorge before. Investigation was conducted by the NYSP, the Town of Hunter Police Department, and the DEC. An autopsy is scheduled for Sunday.
Here are some pictures of the area:
Bridal Veil Falls from across Hell's Hole - 90' high
Plattekill Falls from the end of the Catskill Center Trail - 60-70' high
Ledge on the north side of Hell's Hole
More details to come.