2021-05-20: Kate Hill

Kate Hill is a sub-peak located on the northwest slope of the much more impressive Windham High Peak. Located on the border between the towns of Durham and Windham, the peak has no trails to its summit. Its southwestern slope, inside of Windham, is located on a parcel of state-owned land called the High Peak Unit due to its access points along High Peak Road. With a summit elevation of over 2380 feet, Kate Hill is the shortest named peak in both Durham and Windham, and until today, it was the only remaining summit in Durham which I had not yet climbed.

A large block of rock near the spot where I parked. The lower slopes of Kate Hill feature a series of rock outcrops.

This large rock outcrop contains a number of odd holes in its side, ranging from about six inches to a foot across.

Orange markers denoting the boundary of state land. While they don't form the most direct route to the summit, they're very easy to see and follow, and I used them as a guide for my bushwhack.

The curled up ends of a young fern, preparing to unfurl its leaves for the spring.

Trees sporting their young leaves just below the summit of Kate Hill.

The summit consists of a maple forest with a thick grassy floor. These grassy forests are relatively rare in the Catskills; I've only seen them at or near the summits of peaks 2000-3000 ft in the northernmost part of the range.

I found Kate Hill's summit unmarked, so I built a small cairn atop this boulder near its south end, a few yards from the highest point.

Spring leaves meant there was no good view from Kate Hill; this glimpse to the north was the closest thing I could find to one.

A closer shot of the view from Kate Hill, looking north into Albany County.

Sunlight falls through the forests high on Kate Hill, allowing moss and ferns to thrive on these bare rocks.

Farther down the mountain, dense hemlock forests block most sunlight, leaving the impressive rock outcrops barren and grey.