Plateau Mountain

"Beautiful Fall day with crisp morning temps and plenty of blue sky and sun to show off the colors. The five of us whacked up from Mink Hollow PA toward Plateau as a shortcut to the Devils Path for the final ascent. Over to the viewpoint west of the summit of Sugarloaf for lunch of Korean pancakes and dipping sauce thanks to Mimi. Afterwards up and over Sugarloaf and down to Pecoy Notch where we were “instructed” by Ranger Nelson to drop down the Pecoy Notch trail as the DP section was still closed. Put a quick end to our 4-peak traverse then our consolation prize was a chance for Christy and Mimi to visit Dibbles Quarry for the first time." — Nimblefoot • Oct 14, 2019

"Did a double dip to get the Devils Path four. Indian Head and Twin from the Prediger road PA then Plateau and Sugarloaf from the Mink Hollow PA. Spooked a good size black bear about half way into Jimmy Dolan Notch." — Nimblefoot • Sep 17, 2019

"Successful single day, solo traverse of the Devil's Path from East to West. This marks my first ultra-style, and longest hike in terms of mileage and duration. Set out at around 4:50am with 15 hours of moving time. I got over my fear of hiking alone in the dark, made some newt friends along the way, and finished the trail in one piece. I'm excited to keep pushing and see how far my heart and feet take me :) " — pandyabear • Sep 15, 2019

"Tom, Peter and I did a traverse of the Devils Path 4, Plateau to Indian Head. We started our hike by bushwhacking right out of the Mink Hollow PA as a short cut to the DP heading toward Plateau. The rest of the day we felt like salmon swimming upstream as we were heading east while the numerous hikers and backpackers were all heading west. On Indian Head we met up Tom’s wife Anna and friends Mimi and Regina and hiked out to Prediger road with them. To finish our day we headed to Mama’s Boy in Tannersville to have some smash burgers and tater tots. A wonderful day with cooler temps, great views and good friends." — Nimblefoot • Aug 24, 2019

"Tom, Christy and I did a challenging hike of the eastern half of the Devils Path and Kaaterskill High Peak using the Platte Clove Preserve trail/Long Path to connect the two areas. Started with a bushwhack out of Mink Hollow to the DP up on Plateau and finished with a bushwhack off of KHP down to Byrne road on new DEP land. Plateau becomes my 6th peak to hit 35 ascents." — Nimblefoot • Apr 22, 2019

"Helping my friend Ed with a guiding gig. The client and four friends wanted to hike the entire DP in two days as a shakedown trip before heading to Elbrus later this month then Everest in May. We reached our camp in Mink Hollow at 7:45 pm on Saturday night then the plan was to leave for Plateau at 3 am, after going to bed at 11pm, to simulate an alpine start today. Well the 3 am start turned into a 5:15 am start for a fun ascent of Plateau via headlamp and watching the sun rise. By the time we reached Notch lake and Rt 214 they realized we wouldn’t reach the western end of the DP until 10pm or after and there is a snowstorm forecasted. The trek was promptly terminated then we spent a couple of hours bushwhacking on the side of Hunter." — Nimblefoot • Mar 3, 2019

"Tom and I got in an icy climb of Plateau then an even icier climb of Sugarloaf. Snowshoes were carried but never deployed as any snow was well packed or crusty and holding our weight. Fortunately the ice was soft enough to allow our Hillsounds to grip well which was particularly necessary for the flows on Sugarloaf resembling a fun water slides." — Nimblefoot • Feb 11, 2019

"Eight of us converged at the Mink Hollow PA to engage in a Hikers Anonymous hike of Plateau and Sugarloaf. Kathryn’s final two peaks for her first winter round of the Cat35. A spikey ascent and descent, after bare booting the woods road/trail to the col, and not many options to play off trail in the crusty snow." — Nimblefoot • Dec 27, 2018

"Following litter pickup on Rt 214 a small group of 3500 Club members hiked Plateau and Sugarloaf mountains from Rt 214 to the Roaring Kill PA. I forgot what a nice steady climb it is from 214 to Orchard Point. The views at the Point and Danny’s Lookout were off and on as the low clouds lifted and cleared then returned. The walk along the top of Plateau was splendid with the colorful mushrooms dotting the forest floor and on the trees and cloud mist in the air." — Nimblefoot • Sep 1, 2018

"Doug came down the night before. He was planning on finishing his NEU8 with a Devils Path Traverse. I wanted to be there for it and to also pick up 5 peaks for my Catskills list. We drove over in his car and headed up. The first half of the traverse was cool. Terrain and rock formations were really cool. But damn, those col depths were serious. Between Sugarloaf and Plateau, we dropped 1200 feet, then had to regain 1240 feet. There were few summit views. The traverse was more about ledge views. We came out at dusk. Doug then got to drive back home that night while I took the next day off from hiking. It was a 24.5 mile day. " — newenglandwarrior • Aug 26, 2018

"Nine of us got together to do a grand hike from Plateau to Kaaterskill High Peak and Round top. From Mink Hollow road to Gillespie road with six peaks and 18+ miles of hiking and bushwhacking in between. On our descent back to the col we passed Mike S. the new record holder of the Catskill 35 in one continuous hike/run." — Nimblefoot • Jun 16, 2018

"Started from the Elka Park trailhead & summited Plateau first then reversed course & climbed Sugarloaf & continued on to make the loop hike. Being late May, the black flies were ferocious so stopping for any length of time was torture. Very cool rock chairs on way out." — billsussdorff • May 30, 2018

"Tagging KHP and Plateau for the month of May. After a morning visit of the summit of KHP the wonderful blue sky and sunshine accompanied us on our ascent of Plateau. With the exception of the usual wet/muddy spots the trails were dry and ice free which means it’s time to get back to the trail runners and ditch the lug soled monsters." — Nimblefoot • May 8, 2018

"Laura, Ed, Steve and I met in the Mink Hollow PA for a hike of Plateau and Sugarloaf. Since we carried snowshoes the last three days and didn’t use them today they will stay safely in the car. Still ice and crusty snow up at higher elevations so we will bring the micro spikes. All four of us manage to make the summit with just bare boots and careful foot placement the spikes would have helped in a number of tricky spots. For our descent we all put on the spikes and additionally try off-trail alternative routes to play in softer snow for safety and/or fun. The clear blue sky with sun encourages us to dawdle at any views and take it all in. " — Nimblefoot • Apr 23, 2018

"Steve and I back on grid2 by climbing Plateau. The warm temperature had us stripping down as we bare booted up to the non descript summit. We managed to dodge, step over or gingerly crossed the many icy patches on the upper half of the trail on our way up. For our descent we popped on our Hillsound micros,to avoid any slips or falls, until we got back down to the bare rock. " — Nimblefoot • Mar 1, 2018

"Laura, Steve and I initially started off bare booting as the trail was well packed and firm. We gradually started to sink in more and more so the snowshoes went on and stayed on the remainder of the day. A very easy ascent up to Plateau from the col was a more challenging descent on the snow that just slid as you stepped on it. Plunge stepping off trail was a little easier but still involved sudden slides. Temperature becoming more spring like as we neared mid-day." — Nimblefoot • Jan 11, 2018

"Visiting the summit of Kaaterskill High Peak for my 15th round of the Catskill 35 then Plateau to finish the day. Very quiet day in the woods, didn’t see another sole on my hike." — Nimblefoot • Nov 30, 2017

"Nice day to be out playing in the mountains, hiking Windham HP with my wife then Sugarloaf and Plateau by myself. A quick ascent immediately followed by a quicker descent passing the same folks both ways." — Nimblefoot • Nov 4, 2017

"On a beautiful fall day I was out tagging Windham HP and Plateau for October. Seasonal temps starting in the upper 30's in the AM and rising toward 60. The leaves are falling making any tricky descents a bit more challenging by hiding roots and loose rocks. " — Nimblefoot • Oct 1, 2017

"After participating on the 3500 Club litter cleanup, along Rt 214 near Notch Lake, seven of us did a traverse of Plateau and Sugarloaf mountains. Nice climb up from Rt 214 then the splendid hike along Plateau from Orchard Point to the summit which I haven't done in a few years. For Lynn Plateau was peak #35 leaving only the four peaks to do in winter for her 3 season patch." — Nimblefoot • Sep 9, 2017