Platte Clove
Encyclopedia
Platte Clove, sometimes Plattekill Clove, is a narrow and steep valley in the Catskill Mountains
of New York
. It is mostly in Greene County
, although the lowest portions are in Ulster County
.
Along with Kaaterskill Clove
on the other side of Kaaterskill High Peak
, it is one of only two breaks in the Catskill Escarpment
. It was created during the last Ice Age
as meltwater eroded
its way through from the Catskill Plateau to the Hudson below. The stream that evolved is today Plattekill Creek.
In the early 19th century, early American artists were struck by the rugged, wild scenery of the clove and other locations in the northeastern Catskills. Depictions of this wilderness by Thomas Cole
and others led to the artists being dubbed the Hudson River School
.
A narrow, two-lane road that climbs 1,200 vertical feet (366 m) in 1.4 miles (2.2 km) from West Saugerties
along the clove's north wall is the only route through it. Trucks and buses are banned from it, and it is not maintained or even plowed
between November and April. The Tour de Trump
bicycle race
was routed through here, and the road proved so steep that even some of the top bicyclists in the world had to get off and walk their bikes (it was raining that day).
The cliffs near the clove's headwall offer spectacular views of the nearby waterfalls but have also been the site of fatal accidents. In 2010 a man from the Albany suburb of Delmar
lost his footing near one and fell 100 ft (30 m) to his death.
On June 4, 2010 Olivia Rose Belfiglio fell 100 feet from the top of a cliff and died at the bottom.
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. It is mostly in Greene County
Greene County, New York
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Its name is in honor of the American Revolutionary War general Nathanael Greene. Its county seat is Catskill...
, although the lowest portions are in Ulster County
Ulster County, New York
Ulster County is a county located in the state of New York, USA. It sits in the state's Mid-Hudson Region of the Hudson Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 182,493. Recent population estimates completed by the United States Census Bureau for the 12-month period ending July 1 are at...
.
Along with Kaaterskill Clove
Kaaterskill Clove
Kaaterskill Clove is a deep gorge, or valley, in New York's eastern Catskill Mountains, lying just west of the village of Palenville. The clove was formed by Kaaterskill Creek, a tributary of Catskill Creek rising west of North Mountain, and is estimated by geologists to be as much as 1 million...
on the other side of Kaaterskill High Peak
Kaaterskill High Peak
Kaaterskill High Peak is one of the Catskill Mountains, located in the Town of Hunter in Greene County, New York, USA. It was once believed to be the highest peak in the entire range, but its summit, at 3,655 feet in elevation, places it only 23rd among the Catskill High Peaks. It is, however,...
, it is one of only two breaks in the Catskill Escarpment
Catskill Escarpment
The Catskill Escarpment, often referred to locally as just the Escarpment or the Great Wall of Manitou, and known as the Catskill Front to geologists, is the range forming the northeastern corner of the Catskill Mountains in Greene and Ulster counties in the U.S. state of New York...
. It was created during the last Ice Age
Wisconsin glaciation
The last glacial period was the most recent glacial period within the current ice age occurring during the last years of the Pleistocene, from approximately 110,000 to 10,000 years ago....
as meltwater eroded
Erosion
Erosion is when materials are removed from the surface and changed into something else. It only works by hydraulic actions and transport of solids in the natural environment, and leads to the deposition of these materials elsewhere...
its way through from the Catskill Plateau to the Hudson below. The stream that evolved is today Plattekill Creek.
In the early 19th century, early American artists were struck by the rugged, wild scenery of the clove and other locations in the northeastern Catskills. Depictions of this wilderness by Thomas Cole
Thomas Cole
Thomas Cole was an English-born American artist. He is regarded as the founder of the Hudson River School, an American art movement that flourished in the mid-19th century...
and others led to the artists being dubbed the Hudson River School
Hudson River school
The Hudson River School was a mid-19th century American art movement embodied by a group of landscape painters whose aesthetic vision was influenced by romanticism...
.
A narrow, two-lane road that climbs 1,200 vertical feet (366 m) in 1.4 miles (2.2 km) from West Saugerties
Saugerties (town), New York
Saugerties is a town in Ulster County, New York, USA. The population was 19,482 at the 2000 census. The Town of Saugerties contains the Village of Saugerties. The town is in the northeast corner of Ulster County....
along the clove's north wall is the only route through it. Trucks and buses are banned from it, and it is not maintained or even plowed
Snowplow
A snowplow is a device intended for mounting on a vehicle, used for removing snow and ice from outdoor surfaces, typically those serving transportation purposes...
between November and April. The Tour de Trump
Tour de Trump
The Tour de Trump was a road bicycle race in the United States held in 1989 and 1990 and was sponsored by Donald Trump. The Tour DuPont replaced the Tour de Trump, from 1991 to 1996.- 1989 Tour de Trump :...
bicycle race
Bicycle racing
Bicycle racing is a competition sport in which various types of bicycles are used. There are several categories of bicycle racing including road bicycle racing, cyclo-cross, mountain bike racing, track cycling, BMX, bike trials, and cycle speedway. Bicycle racing is recognised as an Olympic sport...
was routed through here, and the road proved so steep that even some of the top bicyclists in the world had to get off and walk their bikes (it was raining that day).
The cliffs near the clove's headwall offer spectacular views of the nearby waterfalls but have also been the site of fatal accidents. In 2010 a man from the Albany suburb of Delmar
Delmar, New York
Delmar is a hamlet in the town of Bethlehem, Albany County, New York. A census-designated place has been established since 1980 by the US Bureau of Census for tabulating the population of what the census has defined as the boundaries of the urbanized area in and around Delmar. The population was...
lost his footing near one and fell 100 ft (30 m) to his death.
On June 4, 2010 Olivia Rose Belfiglio fell 100 feet from the top of a cliff and died at the bottom.