The usual route up Halcott Mountain starts at a small parking area along side NY highway 42. A short trail leads up to the unnamed waterfall to the right. Since this was going to be my first solo "true bushwhack", I took the time to scout it out the day before and decided that there was a much easier approach from south from the unpaved Upper Birch Rd. By using a combination of my compass, map and GPS, I followed what appeared to be the least steep route north then broke east when I reached a ridge. The first part of the climb went through mostly deciduous forest and was fairly open. Towards the top it got much thicker and slow going. I kept checking my position on the GPS and worked my way to the last contour circle. The very last push to the summit was up the only rock cliffs that I had seen all morning. I kept moving to the highest point that I could see and picked up a small herd path that led me right to the canister. I signed in and called Sandy from the summit. All that was left was to retrace my steps and find my truck.
Mountain #23, only twelve more to go. Since I had tried to find the easiest way to the top, I decided to take the steepest way down. It goes a little quicker working with gravity instead of against it. That, and finding an old wood road about half way down got me out and back the truck in about an hour. I had gotten an early start just because it was a bushwhack and I was being cautious, but I ended up getting out so quick that it was too early, being Sunday, to have the ceremonious celebration beer. So I went with "celebration breakfast."
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