Halcott Mountain

"Tom and I joined Christy for a sunrise romp of Balsam Lake mountain and Graham. A little nippy at our 5:30 am meet in the Millbrook Rd PA which kept us moving at a brisk pace but we didn’t quite make it to the top of BLM before the sun rose. We had to take our photos through the trees along the trail as the sun popped up over Graham. Climbed to the top landing of the tower to take in the views while enduring some wicked wind. Christy slowed down a bit on the climb to Graham, a direct result of not eating any breakfast that day. We hunkered down next to the old cinder block building to escape the wind while having some snacks and hot beverages. Graham completed my 35th round of the Cat35 and was my 1300th Cat35 peak that I know of. Back at the PA Christy headed off to her job at the Mohonk Preserve while Tom and I wanted additional peak(s), Bearpen and Vly for him and Halcott for me. A solo stroll to the canister where I signed into a fresh notebook then called it a day. " — Nimblefoot • Nov 14, 2019

"Met up with Tom, Anna, Peter and MiMi at Deep Notch PA for a leisurely ascent of Halcott. We enjoyed a Korean noodle dish with beef, shiitake mushrooms and fish cake on the summit thanks to MiMi. Back at the PA we enjoyed some cannolis with our seltzer’s before parting ways. To finish my day I headed over to Red Hill PA to do a quick hike up to the tower to take a selfie for the new fire tower challenge. Despite numerous cars, even in the winter lot, I managed to find a spot in the parking lot. Quite a few groups hanging out at the summit enjoying the afternoon." — Nimblefoot • Aug 3, 2019

"Bopped up to KHP for the month of July then wandered over to the East peak before heading down to the car. Finished the day with a jaunt up Halcott putting me at 21 peaks toward the Summer Triangle patch." — Nimblefoot • Jul 15, 2019

"Tom and I did a “T-bone “ hike of Black Dome, Thomas Cole and Blackhead out of Lockwood Gap. An overcast day with ocassional holes of sunny blue sky and breezy with cooler than normal temps. Fortunately no serious rain fell so we could enjoy our hike without deploying rain gear. In the afternoon Paul joined Tom for a whack of Windham HP while I headed over to Rt 42 for a climb of Halcott." — Nimblefoot • Jun 14, 2019

"After doing my trail maintenance on the Diamond Notch trail I finished up the day tagging Rusk and Halcott mtns putting me just over halfway on a third grid. Peaks # 22 & 23 toward the Spring Trillium single season patch from Ha!" — Nimblefoot • May 22, 2019

"Tom, Tim, Yong Ae, Paul and I out to visit two straggler peaks, Halcott and Rusk, that I need to close in on a finish of a second SSW35 for this season. A straight forward whack breaking a new track though everyone is a bit sluggish on a day that feels like winter again compared to the spring-like conditions from yesterday. Our spirits were revived during our descent when Yong Ae provided a thermos of ginger tea and wings for a nice snack break. Paul and Yong Ae called it a day and passed on the opportunity to visit Rusk. " — Nimblefoot • Mar 12, 2019

"Six of us did Halcott for breakfast then parked three cars in Fleishmans before heading up to Johnson Hollow in Peter’s Jeep to do Bearpen and Vly for lunch. Slippery driving conditions on the Thru-way and Rt 28 in the morning with cars sliding off the road into ditches and sliding through intersections. Combination of snow flurries and temps near freezing point with excessive speed/braking. Wore Hillsounds up and down, new white fluff hiding many icy patches and sticking to our crampons. The worse ice was right in the PA. " — Nimblefoot • Dec 30, 2018

"This was a bushwack up to the summit. I relied heavily on my GPS unit to make it up there. Lots of stinging nettles plants all over the place. Had to bushwack in open woods and constantly looks for paths around the nettles. Reached the summit with the canister. No views. I then headed back down to my car and drove to Red Hill after this." — newenglandwarrior • Aug 28, 2018

"After tagging Vly and Bearpen in the morning now Ed, Steve and I are in Deep Notch on Rt 42 prepping for an ascent of Hawk-it. Wearing only t-shirts and shorts is a nice change finally but we didn’t need the temperature to rise into the upper 80’s so soon. With the snow finally gone we are delighted to see trilliums, trout Lillie’s and dutchman’s britches flowering along the way. Additionally we see many patches of ramps thriving tempting one to pluck some for their evenings dinner salad. Ed led us up to the canister without much navigational assistance and the start of our descent then I got the responsibility to get us back to the cars. A quick beer before heading out only to return tomorrow for three more peaks in the heat...oh boy!" — Nimblefoot • May 2, 2018

"Steve and I up for a twofer of Panther and Halcott for the month of April. Another bare boot ascent with bare ground down low and firm snow up higher. The crust under the inch or two of recent fluff made the final ascent more challenging when trying to kick steps straight up a wall of a slope. Once on the summit plateau it was an easy peasy stroll to the canister. For a safe easy descent we put on the Hillsounds till we got down lower." — Nimblefoot • Apr 20, 2018

"Getting Vly, Bearpen and Halcott mountains for Ed on a beautiful but cold morning that warms up nicely with the blue sky and sunshine. I let Ed navigate to the canister since he is the one who needs the peak and he chooses a less direct route closely following the tracks of a couple who started up an hour or so before us. On our descent we manage to chop a half hour off our ascent time and catch up to the couple on the final descent to our cars. The combination of loose snow and leaves underneath provides another slippery situation causing those with tired legs to slip and fall occasionally or reduce their pace considerably. Another fine day in the Catskills." — Nimblefoot • Feb 3, 2018

"Back to early winter conditions tagging Halcott for winter round #10. Bare ground and light flurries at the parking lot then the snow gradually accumulated to several inches. The lack of ice and crusty snow made for an easy ascent and descent without any spills or thrills. Surprisingly met two guys hanging out at the canister." — Nimblefoot • Jan 24, 2018

"The Catskill crew of gridiots, Laura, Tom, Steve and I did a Spruceton sscattershot of Halcott, Rusk and Westkill. The day started off as a nice sunny day shuffling through the leaves to the Halcott canister." — Nimblefoot • Dec 7, 2017

"After bagging Thomas Cole and Black Dome to close out my 14th 3 season round of the Catskill 35 I headed over to Rt 42 to bag Halcott to finish the day and to close out the month of November for Grid2." — Nimblefoot • Nov 26, 2017

"After maintaining my section of the Diamond Notch trail I stopped off at the Deep Notch parking area to do a quick hike up Halcott. Overcast sky with light breeze and cool temps but the sun popped out briefly while I ate my lunch in the car encouraging me to head up. On my return to the car you could feel the moisture in the air, so close to sprinkling." — Nimblefoot • Oct 16, 2017

"Out doing the dreadful three; Sherrill, North Dome and Halcott; to finish up the month. Wonderful bushwhack peaks that are almost always saved for last. After returning to Shaft road, from North Dome, I crossed over Rt 42 to head up to Halcott. A straight shot navigationally but with a few steep spots and the terrible twins of itchy & scratchy, also known as nettles and briars." — Nimblefoot • Aug 28, 2017

"Laura and I got together to visit the canisters on Rusk and Halcott mountains for the month of July. After returning from Rusk and having a quick bite in the parking lot we headed over to the parking lot off Rt 42 for Halcott. The day is really warming up so the ascent is a bit of a sweat fest with some dancing through nettle fields. Even though she was wearing long pants she still felt the nettles on her knees. Jotted our names in the log book then took a different route back avoiding the nettles quite well. We passed on our usual rehydration routine so Laura could get home and prep her house for the next group of guests." — Nimblefoot • Jul 31, 2017

"After hiking Vly and Bearpen mountains with Laura and her dog Lily, Steve and I headed down to Rt 42 to climb Halcott. We had some fun following a faint herdpath for awhile then just whacked our way to the ridge and over to the canister on top. Always trying a slightly different route in order to enjoy the "sting" of the nettles while bushwhacking in shorts." — Nimblefoot • Jun 29, 2017

"Bushwhack from the Route 42 Parking Area for my winter requirement. A relaxed jaunt up the mountain. Searched around for the vista depicted on the NYNJTC map, but couldn't find it. This peak was much more enjoyable in the winter and with company; in the dead of summer, alone and whacking through chest-high nettles, my first climb of Halcott was unpleasant to say the least. " — wacbravo • Mar 5, 2017

"Nine of us climbed Halcott and Rusk mountains for Kate and Cathy's regular 3500 Club completion. Followed a broken track that was a long and windy route to the canister. A beautiful day with temps of spring rather than winter." — Nimblefoot • Feb 19, 2017