Climbing Kaaterskill Falls

[Chip]

I decided to take an ice climbing class in the Catskills Saturday. This would serve as a re-introduction to roped climbing (it's been 30 years), harnesses, and some more technical aspects of winter travel.

I met my instructor, Justin, and another student, Steve, at the little EMS in New Paltz at 8am. A quick gear check and harness fitting later and we were on our way to Kaaterskill Falls. Compare that picture to the summer picture here with info on the falls.
We started the day by getting familiar with our gear, axe technique, some knots and crampon technique. Soon Justin headed up the lower falls to set our anchor. After he returned I volunteered to head up first. With more muscle than technique I chopped and kicked my way quickly to the top. The view across the middle pool to the upper falls was inspiring . It was primarily a frozen tube of water and would be a great climb for the more experienced. Looking back down at our group I began my first rappel since high school. Fun stuff ! Turns were taken all morning with tips and techniques interjected.

After a quick lunch break in the sun we had fun creating a long slide in deep snow to practice self arrest. The afternoon was more instruction and climbing on different sections of the lower falls (that's me standing up in the middle ).

All in all a perfect day of instruction and climbing with good people in a perfect setting.

 

[Paradox]

Looks like an interesting day. Congrats.

 

[Tom Rankin]

Wow! Does anyone actually climb the upper Falls in Winter?

 

[Chip]

The upper falls were amazing. When the afternoon light finally hit it and turned it blue, you could see the water flowing down the center spine. A man and woman climbed it in the morning. The man got up, setting protection and then a summit anchor, in about 45 minutes. The woman spent about 2 hours climbing it. At one point we heard a bloody scream and shouting and we determined she had broken through the ice tube into the water fall. She finally did summit and the man let go with a most maniacal laugh, quite irritating, but I give them both credit. You could also walk clear behind the upper falls. I heading back up there again before things melt. Great area.

 

[Jay H]

Cool, I'm getting 403 errors from your picture links though... anybody else?

Did you talk to Justin on any other falls in the Kaaterskill Clove/Platte Clove that they ice climb on? How about High Falls down by Frost valley?

Jay

 

[Chip]

Jay, I'm getting "Forbidden"
"Your client does not have permission to get URL / from this server."
from work now. This is a new Picasa Google photo hosting account, Parazz is shutting down. I'm not sure what the prob is.

Edit: Okay. I think I fixed it. You need to link from the Public Gallery at Picasa, not your private one.

 

[Puck]

Sounds like a great trip. What is next on your docket?

 

[Papa Bear]

Edit: Okay. I think I fixed it. You need to link from the Public Gallery at Picasa, not your private one.

I'm still getting "Forbidden". Did you change the links in your first post? I'm really, really anxious to see you guys climb that waterfall.

 

[Chip]

I changed the links in my first post. I'm able to view pics now from work, which is normally pretty restricted.

 

[Jay H]

I'm still getting 403-forbidden errors in the links...

Jay

 

[Puck]

Chip is just teasing us with "forbidden fruit" Maybe somebody can photo shop your image onto an ice cube.

 

[pudgy_groundhog]

Unfortunately, I can't see your pictures, but it sounds like it was a great day. I love the falls in winter. A few years ago we hiked up to the upper falls and Steve yelled out "Krakatoa". I was wondering what in the world he was talking about, but when I caught my first look at the upper falls I understood. The frozen ice underneath the falls looked like a volcano. It was pretty neat.

I'll have to check back later to see if I can see your pics.

 

[Jay H]

Chip, I just sent you a reply to your PM, but I found Google's Picasaweb's community and now was able to see your pictures.. However, I logged in via my Gmail account and then found Google's version of Webshot's Community... so perhaps others without gmail/google accounts might not be able to do the same thing..

http://picasaweb.google.com/ChipDiane/022407ClimbingKaaterskillFalls

Does the above link work for anybody else without a gmail account?

Jay

 

[Chip]

too much trouble. I'll try another service tonight. sorry about the trouble.

 

[Papa Bear]

so perhaps others without gmail/google accounts might not be able to do the same thing..

http://picasaweb.google.com/ChipDiane/022407ClimbingKaaterskillFalls

Does the above link work for anybody else without a gmail account?

Jay

Yes! It now works for me, and I was getting the "Forbidden" message before. (I actually have a Gmail account but never use it and I have not logged on now.)

Great pix Chip.

 

[Jay H]

How about this link

The above is a direct link to the first picture...

Jay

 

[Jay H]

OK, I see what Chip is trying to link to, he's trying to link to a direct link to the picture itself. Kind of like embedding the photo but not actually embedding it.

I can access his direct links now that I have logged into Picasa... I went back just now and can click on his links and then see them fine, without the 403 errors...

However, I think you have to have a google/gmail account AND also be logged into it. So it's not really a general public kind of link.....

P.S. Nice pictures!

Jay

 

[cbcbd]

Awesome!! Good to see you got out on the ice and will now get hooked (be prepared to open that wallet WIDE! )

Did you talk to Justin on any other falls in the Kaaterskill Clove/Platte Clove that they ice climb on? How about High Falls down by Frost valley?

Don't know much around Kaaterskill other than the falls.
In Platte Clove there are some nice ones with a short approach - Bridal Veil falls, Platte Kill falls, Devils kitchen area... all of those you can get to from rt 16 to Platte Clove road - park near where they close the road in winter and follow the blue trail near the red house before the bridge to get to Platte Kill falls - if you follow that river downstream you'll get to Bridal Veil falls, Devil's kitchen area to the left, and further down Japanese Falls. There is a Catskills/Gunks ice climbing guide that shows all legal waterfalls to climb (some are on private land and are just not published).

Wow! Does anyone actually climb the upper Falls in Winter?

There are people that can climb anything!

 

[Tom Rankin]

Awesome!! ... There are people that can climb anything!

WOW!!!

Those falls are really cool all year round. Being able to sit *BEHIND* them is just too cool!