Since the skies have cleared and the rain has stopped, it's time to start hiking trails and climbing mountains.
I really like to climb the peaks in the Adirondacks because many of the mountains have bald summits, so the views are far better.
When deciding where to start the hiking season, I kept finding references to the Devil's Kitchen. I'd been on parts of the Devil's Path, which crosses over Hunter Mountain, and I've driven past the Devil's Tombstone Campground, but I wasn't familiar with the Devil's Kitchen.
I started checking it out and found that several people have lost their lives over the years because of the treacherous footing above and around the magnificent waterfalls that drop down through the Kitchen.
Actually much of the Devil's Kitchen and many of the most majestic waterfalls are along County Route 16, which is a steep, narrow, seasonal road running from Platte Clove to West Saugerties. It drops 1,100 feet in about 2 miles.
It's the dozens of beautiful waterfalls that cascade down this valley that make up the jewels of the mountains. Bridal Veil Falls, Plattekille Falls, Devil's Kitchen Flume, Black Chasm and the Old Mill Falls are just a few of the 100 or so waterfalls _ some with a height of 150 feet _ in the Devil's Kitchen Region.
This region draws people at all times of the year to quench their adventurous beasts within. In the winter, ice climbers with ice axes and crampons work their way up the frozen falls. These same cliffs draw rock climbers to the vertical rock as well.
Besides hikers, the Tour of the Catskills is held on the steep, challenging road. The bicycle climb is a tough, grueling pedal up a 12-percent slope.
At the bottom of the mountain, you can access seven really beautiful falls without climbing up and down the cliff-like terrain near the top of the road. There is some posted property, but you can get around it. It's worth the effort.
A hike up to Huckleberry Point is a must. The views of the Hudson Valley as well as the Catskill peaks of Indian Head, Twin and Sugarloaf mountains make the gentle, 2-mile hike worth while.
Besides the natural wonders of the area, a small architectural masterpiece supports part of the county highway right at the very top. A beautiful hand-laid stone bridge that was built more than 100 years ago allows cars to cross the scenic creek. The falls below it are truly awesome.
While in the area, you can't miss a trip to the beautiful and breathtaking Kaaterskill Falls just below the little village of Haines Falls on State Highway 23A. The hike to the bottom of the falls is a little less than a half-mile, but it's definitely worth the trip.
We decided to climb to the top of the first falls. The narrow path seemed a little difficult but was much easier on the way back down.
The Devil's Kitchen is a great place to visit on a nice, sunny day. I'll have to go back and find more of nature's beautiful treasures. After all, they're just around the next bend.
Rick Brockway writes a weekly outdoors column for The Daily Star. E-mail him at robrockway@hotmail.com.
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