New Feature- Photo Tags and Photo Pages

A new feature has been added to CatskillSearch earlier this year. It has been hidden for the most part and probably easily overlooked as it has been slowly added to this website. All the photographs on CatskillSearch have been tagged. The photo tags can be found at the bottom of the first page and also with the black menu bar that runs along the top of the page.

When viewing a specific photo tag page it becomes easier to browse and navigate all images within the topic.

Over the next few weeks this feature will be better implemented so that overall navigation is easier and browsing of images is quicker and more rewarding.

Old Blenheim Bridge (Google Aerial Map)

Aerial image of the area around the former site of the Old Blenheim Bridge. Photo taken in September 2011.

Aerial image of the Old Blenheim Bridge from 2009

Old Blenheim Bridge was a wooden covered bridge that spanned Schoharie Creek in North Blenheim, New York. With an open span of 210 feet (64 m), it had the longest span of any surviving covered bridge in the world. It was destroyed on August 28, 2011 as a result of flooding from Tropical Storm Irene. (Source: Wikipedia- Old Blenheim Bridge)

CatskillSearch- November 2011

A post to save to see what CatskillSearch looked like on this day. View June 2009.

November 2011

June 2009

Lucy Snaps

Random snapshots of Lucy:

Lucy looking out from the back of the car. She is probably wondering if she going to be able to get out and look the area around as well.

This was taken in the early part of the year. It is rare that Lucy is has a long leash attached around the house. Can’t remember why she has the leash but probably a large tractor is out mowing the field. Lucy sticks her tongue out in this photo probably because she wants to run alongside the tractor.

Lucy gears up for a run in the back trails as my father starts the ATV.

Lucy after a run in the back fields resting on the porch.

Lucy knows we are about to leave for an outing and wants to go. Lucy does not want to leave the area around the car because she would like to go as well.

A nor’easter hits the Catskills. http://www.catskillsearch.com/site/2011/10/27/route-23-prattsville-red-falls-construction/

Prattsville NY (night)

Photographs below were taken from Prattsville during the early night hours. It gets dark very early now and its going to get dark even earlier once the clock falls back this weekend.

Pratt Rock

A quick hike to the top of Pratt Rock from Route 23. I took a lot of photos along the trail to the top of Pratt Rock. One photo taken from this outing is similar to a photograph taken in July 2009. The two photographs from Pratt Rock taken from 2011 and 2009 are displayed below.

Hurricane Irene and her floods caused a lot of destruction to the Catskills especially to the town of Prattsville NY. The man made pile of debris from Hurricane Irene found along Route 23 can be observed in the recent photo from Pratt Rock. (top photo below)

As seen in the top photo taken from Pratt Rock the flooding of Schoharie Creek caused damage to the surrounding fields of Schohaire Creek and Batavia Creek. Batavia Creek can observed running into Schoharie Creek in the middle of the photograph where the line of trees have no leaves.

Batavia Creek is the waterway that washed out and destroyed a large section of Route 23 near Red Falls just a few miles away.

The image below is similar to the image above but it was taken in July 2009.

Man-made pile of debris from Hurricane Irene sits along Route 23 near the junction of Route 23A near Prattsville NY. The pile sadly nearly duplicates the line of the mountain range behind it. This debris can be observed from Pratt Rock as seen in the top photo.

The photo below shows the ongoing construction of Route 23 even in a nor’easter which occurred on October 27, 2011. Red Falls is seen in the middle of the photo and waterway that caused this damaged is named Batavia Creek.

Roundtop Mountain, Bearpen Mountain, Bearpen Mountain State Forest, Route 23, Prattsville, Greene County.

CatskillSearch Links

Route 23: Road Closed (Hurricane Irene) http://www.catskillsearch.com/site/2011/10/27/route-23-prattsville-red-falls-construction/

Pratt Rock- July 15, 2009 http://www.catskillsearch.com/site/2009/07/15/pratt-rock/

OUTSIDE LINKS

Prattsville NY http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prattsville,_New_York

Hurricane Irene http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Irene

 

Prattsville NY

On August, 28. 2011, Hurricane Irene caused record flooding in Prattsville NY by the Schoharie Creek, causing major damage and destroying large areas of Prattsville.

The photos below were taken in early November 2011 of Prattsville NY.

Prattsville NY 360 #1

Read more

Prattsville NY 360 #2

Read more

Prattsville- Never Forget

Photo taken in November 2011.

Photo taken in July 2009.

Mount Utsayantha

A gallery of photographs from a visit to Mount Utsayantha. Classic views previously photographed along with a few different angles. It was clear on top of the mountain and the road was in good shape. No snow on the road. There was a slight bit of snow in some open areas on top. It was windy and noticeable cooler in the cabin of the fire tower.

The Mount Utsayantha sign found along Route 23 has seen better days. Photograph of the Mount Utsayantha sign along Route 23 from 2004.

Platte Clove Road and Plaat Clove

This post shows photos from Platte Clove (Plaat Clove) and Platte Clove Road (Platt Clove Road also known CR Route 16- Greene County). The names and spellings of this area get a bit confusing. Scroll down and look at the bottom photo of a warning sign that was taken in Ulster County. It refers to this road as ‘Plattecove Mountain Road’. Note that ‘cove’ was used and not ‘clove’. And it further refers to the road as ‘Mountain Road’. For many years I and my family also referred to this road as the “Mountain Road” but never ‘Plattecove’ before that. It was our nickname/ vernacular for the road that traveled through this rough and the steep area of the Catskills. We called it the “Mountain Road”. Also back in 2008 CatskillSearch uploaded a GPS tracklog and called the post Platte Clove Mountain Road. GPS LINK

As I understand the meaning of ‘Clove’ in its simplest form it is Dutch meaning ‘steep ravine’. I read that several years ago when I began to explore and photograph parts of the Catskills.

This post details several photographs taken in about a 30 minute time span. The very first photo (that is below) as I understand showcases the waterfall known as’ Bridal Veil Falls’. I parked at what I have called the “Devils Kitchen Parking Area”. It should be noted the property on the north side is currently for sale. The website for more information regarding this property can be found at this OUTSIDE LINK. It is also showcased on other sites. The asking price was over a million dollars when I looked several months ago. Real Estate Link Page

After I parked at the “Devils Kitchen Parking Area” I walked south to take the first photo. The photograph shows Bridal Veil Falls. CatskillSearch has stood at the top of Bridal Veil Falls several times in the past. It is documented and most notably photographed in a 360 degree image located at this CATSKILLSEARCH LINK. I also took a very nice photograph of this waterfall at this CATSKILLSEARCH LINK. Bridal Veil Falls is very high and it is very dangerous.

Prior to taking the photo of Bridal Veil Falls I walked past this currently unnamed memorial. I documented this memorial in a photograph in 2007 when it was a cross. Someone recently placed a yellow ribbon in remembrance around the upwards recently.

The third photo in this Platte Clove series is the classic view from the bend in the road. I have memories back to the late 1970s when I first viewed across this ravine known as Platte Clove. Depending on the rain fall amounts several distinct waterfalls can be observed. In this particular photo I believe Bridal Veil Falls can be observed in the shadow area.

The next photo includes the “Stop” sign which is found at the top section of the “Mountain Road” which is located in Greene County. It is the belief of CatskillSearch that the Platte Clove Road signs located in both Ulster and Greene County remained very similar for many years. However in the very recent years the signs and location of signs have changed. These photos were taken November 2 when Platte Clove Road was officially closed. Last year there was a second stop sign on the left side.

Photograph taken from the bottom of Platte Clove and the location of the photograph is most likely in Ulster County.

Large rocks, extra guard rails, and a lot of signs have been added in recent years to stop people from parking from the now popular area known as “Platte Clove”.

Four “No Parking Any Time” signs can be seen in this photo taken from the bottom of the “Mountain Road” located in Ulster County. Photo was taken just beyond Becker Road. This section of road is open year round.

This sign located in Ulster County may or may not have a error or may have several errors. ‘PLATTECOVE MT. ROAD’

In recent years Platte Clove has seen a significant increase in name recognition and therefore has seen increased traffic. It is the belief that Greene County, Ulster County, and New York State are not very sure how to proceed with this increased traffic. And that is the reason for the constant changes in the traffic, road, and parking signs.

CatskillSearch first visited the area in the mid 1970′s.

Links:

Platte Clove at Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platte_Clove

Platte Clove at Google Maps http://g.co/maps/re8c7

Plaat Clove at MapQuest http://mapq.st/soczYK

Note: My Delorme Atlas more closely resembles the MapQuest naming than Google Maps.

Plattekill Falls 360 (CatskillSearch.com) http://www.catskillsearch.com/site/2007/10/24/plattekill-falls-360/

Platte Clove Mountain Road GPS Tracklog (CatskillSearch) http://www.catskillsearch.com/site/gps/platte-clove-mountain-road-tracklog/