Catskillmountaineer.com Forum

Kaaterskill High Peak 26Dec2011

I had 5 objectives, two peaks, two crashes and a fort. Between one of the shortest days of the year, some route finding problems at the beginning, and about 6 inches of fresh snow at elevation, I settled for two. One peak, one crash. The new snow was down to the car. There was wind, it was never an issue.
I seen both of them from doing the Devils Path three years ago and wanted to go.

I’d finally accepted I’d need to take a section of the Long Path and perhaps even do the Peak from the easy side, when I ran into the Mohican Chapter of ADK. They knew the ‘whack to the crash and the snowmobile route to the steep face. There, we ran into two other guys who guided us straight to the top following the blue markers. In the fresh snow, we only saw a fragment of airplane wing, presumbably from the upper crash.

I spent some time looking for the second crash site and then left. I took a route straight down to the car at the Devils Kitchen.

In retrospect, I see I’d assumed this would be like the last two peaks I’d whacked - Friday and Balsam Cap last month. That I would clearly see where they were at points along the way. But much of the KHP area is in evergreen. Short ones like Christmas trees that obscure visibility. I couldn't see the mountain until about the plane crash though I knew in which direction it was.

Lower Plane Wreck



View of Devils Path



Plane Fragment at summit

Pretty big schedule. Most people find the first plane crash pretty easy. The south route is pretty hard in the snow, but it looks like you made it up okay.

The second plane crash is almost at the bottom of the northeasterly trail (the one with the scary ledge). Go back about 100' to a flat section of the trail. Then go west about 100'.

Yeah, those balsam fir trees are pretty thick. Much more thick then Balsam Cap and Friday Mtn. I have pushed my way through them a couple of time. You can also find the trail to Round Top about 200' from the summit to Hurricane Ledge. Very thin trail at first, but it then opens up.

If you do both KHP and Roundtop it is easier to hike it from Gillespie Road. We do this hike about once a year. I was suppose to do this hike today, but here I am at work.

You can see that route by clicking here. You can also see a better description of the location of the second plane crash.

Great pictures. Sounds like you had a great time. I can take you up there sometime. A couple of other people want to go.

Here are some pictures of the plane crash:

Thanks. I did see that hike. I'd like to do it. I've done almost all the hard ones. The "Tory Fort" is different than the "Brandt Fort"? There might be too much snow up there to see anything now, based on the photos I've seen.

I was looking for an Indian Village out on the East End of Long Island this time of year and it took a little while.

I saw a Thomas Cole Painting, "View of Fort Putnam". Do you know if there is anything remaining of this?

The Tory Fort is on top of the col between Round Top and KHP. Brant Fort is at the bottom of the col between Round Top and KHP. It was a wooden log building. The Tory Fort was used in the late 1700's by the British. There are just a few walls left. They are from a couple inches to a foot high. Some of the walls are completely gone. Not much left. But, still very interesting to see.

Brant Fort was named after a Mohawk Indian named Joseph Brant. He was educated by the settlers, and then turned on them. He is known for his brutal methods of battle. Brant Fort, is actually just a clearing used as a campsite. No building were known to exist. We suspect that there may have been a Mohawk Long House a few hundred feet south of Brant Fort. Right now with the snow, you probably will not be able to see much.

I don't know anything about Fort Putnam. Maybe it was further south? Another beautiful painting by Thomas Cole. I had not seen this one before.

You are welcome to join us sometime. There are so many things to see.

Sounds like a great hike! Don't feel bad about missing the second crash, you did a great job getting to the top in the snow! I couldn't find the second plane crash even in the summer. I plan on doing KHP again this summer to actually find it!

Thanks for the invite!! Sounds great!

I'm a huge Thomas Cole fan and you find it in some little museums here and there. I saw an exhibit here in NYC where they'd collected it.

The "View of Fort Putnam" hangs in Philadelphia.
http://www.explorethomascole.org/gallery/items/211