Halcott Mtn. 5-5-07

[hermit]

I went in from the Deep Notch p.a.where people seem to use it as a dumping area.The spring flowers are sprouting up along with Jack in The Pulpits,and Lilly of the Valleys.I could also see where nettles are coming up also.:cry: I took the north ridge above the drainage,and then followed the shoulder of the mountain to the summit.There are some tree tops snapped off above 3000' and all the way to the summit.I was able to maneuver around them and through some sections of picker bushes without much trouble. The blowdowns are there but not severe.This area may get thick with under growth with more sunlight coming through later in the season.On the summit I was able to see Belleayre Mtn. which still has some snow on the ski trails. The broken tops did create more views.There was also a couple of patches of snow left near the summit.Near the summit register I found a Nikon Lens cover which I placed on the lower bracket of the canister.A beautiful day to be out ,lots of sun,no bugs,and I was hiking in a tee shirt,and still got home in time to till the garden and mow the lawn 412/420.I did notice on my very old map that Halcott was spelled Hallcott.

[mountainmeijin]

I remember that little one. Sounds nice and floral this time of year. Interesting about "Hallcott" too. It's not so much of a stretch to change "Hall" into "Haw." Wonder if the town of Halcott was the same way?

[hermit]

It is a very nice mountain indeed.I remember in 2002 I bushwacked down the other side to Stanton Hollow with a friend and we came across some old abandoned farms and foundations.

[rockysummit]

Hey Ralph, nice report. Sounds like the blowdown there wasn't too severe.

[hermit]

Hi Tony,so far not too bad with the blowdowns. With only 8 mountains left I am glad that none are in the Blackhead Range,I doubt that would stop me now.

[rockysummit]

Good for you, I've not been as lucky lately. I did Slide this week and above 3500 is really bad. I also tried SW Hunter from Spruceton Rd. 2 weeks ago and it was a mess. Closed now I think. Had a nice hike up Ashokan HP last week though!

[mudhook]

It is pronounced Hawk It.
Hawk It Ville
Hawk It Center

[hermit]

Hi Jim,
Any info. on it's origin? I am always curious,I am finding out that there is so much to learn about the Catskills I feel like I am at the tip of an iceberg.

[Dick]

I am an admitted Catskill novice, but I found the following of some interest to me:

http://www.townofhalcott.com/his1.html
http://www.surnameweb.org/registry/h/a/l/halcott.shtml
http://www.interment.net/data/us/ny/greene/halcott.htm
http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:RBUEuF80EnMJ:censtats.census.gov/data/NY/0603603931379.pdf+Halcott&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=8&gl=us
http://docs.unh.edu/towns/HalcottNewYorkMapList.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halcott,_New_York
http://www.hopefarm.com/1810cens.htm#Halcott

More "formal" places to look for pronunciation origins might include:
http://linguistlist.org/issues/16/16-2057.html
"Pronunciation of Upstate New York place-Names" by L. Sprague De Camp.
In "American Speech" Vol 19 No 4 (Dec. 1944, pp. 250-265).
(complete article not available online without special library access).


Dick (enjoying the weather out in left field)

[hermit]

Thanks Dick,
I noticed some familiar names in the town registries.