The International Concatenated Order of Hoo-Hoo is a fraternal and service organization whose members are involved in the forests products industry. People become members of Hoo-Hoo in their own right, not as representatives of a company or an organization although businesses and organizations often support members in Hoo-Hoo. In a spirit of fun, names for some of the officers were inspired by Lewis Carroll's The Hunting of the Snark which include titles like the Supreme Hoo-Hoo, Senior Hoo-Hoo, and Junior Hoo-Hoo.
Any Hoo-Hoos on Halcot? Many peaks in the Catskills were greatly deforested in the early 19th century for the tanning industry. From what I understand this mountain was cleared of all trees below 2000 feet for fields. From the fields to the old growth forest,trees were cut by local farmers as firewood and hemlocks were harvested so that the tannin in their bark could be used to tan leather. In 1885 the state created the Forest Preserve to protect what was left by mandating that all the land owned by the state in what is now the Catskill Park be kept "forever wild". Here on Halcott it is hard to tell where exactly that line of what would have been considered summits first growth on Halcott before 1885. It does not have the balsam forrest cap like most of the surrounding peaks. Perhaps Hoo-Hoos once clear cut this entire mountain but what stands here now are some very large trees.
There are no trails on this 3520 foot mountain. There are recommend ways to summit. Catskill Hiker, Catkill 3500 club, or Peakbagger are some. Do your research ahead of time and be prepared with proper equipment including a PEN to sign the log. This cache is not placed in the easiest route up. It is steep with lots of brush to bushwhack through but there were no large cliffs to navigate. Our happiness was in leaving a hide along our 3.6 mile round trip and hoping it brings a smiley to others that make this hard hike.