Will Thrall from Buckhorn CG

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Mon Aug 26, 2019 6:11 pm

I did Will Thrall on Saturday. It's been on my to do list for a couple of years and I'm happy to have finally done it.

We hit the trailhead at Buckhorn Campground around 10:30am and it was already pretty hot. We encountered two sets of lost hikers in Cooper Canyon who were looking for the falls and only saw one person past that point. The solitude was awesome, but the climb to Burkhardt Saddle was hot and full of bugs. I thought there would be more shade and I didn't realize how many bugs there would be above the canyon (they were worse above the canyon than in the canyon). We took a break at the saddle before sluggishly making our way to the summit. Thankfully, the summit was worth it all and lived up to the hype. After a lengthy hang, we headed back down to the bug zone. We were pretty damn beat by the time we got back to the car.

Distance: 11.3 mi
Elev. gain: 3,225 ft
Total time: 7:16:29

I've done harder hikes in terms of length and gain, but this one really kicked my ass. I think it was the heat and bugs because I wasn't that physically taxed. I look forward to going back and hitting Pallet, Pleasant View Ridge, and other surrounding peaks -- but in early fall or late spring when it's cooler.

Girl Hiker · Post by **Girl Hiker** » Tue Aug 27, 2019 11:22 am

Awesome! Pallet is steeper than Will Thrall. Best to start early. I was there a couple of weeks ago checking out some pools in Little Rock Creek. The bugs were very annoying at the start of the trail but then it got better as we hiked further out into the canyon. Whenever it's hot, we always take advantage and dip into the pools and waterfalls. It really cools you down

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:01 pm

Girl Hiker wrote: Awesome! Pallet is steeper than Will Thrall. Best to start early. I was there a couple of weeks ago checking out some pools in Little Rock Creek. The bugs were very annoying at the start of the trail but then it got better as we hiked further out into the canyon. Whenever it's hot, we always take advantage and dip into the pools and waterfalls. It really cools you down

Yeah, good call. We started late and didn't want to lose time by taking a dip, but next time I will DEFINITELY leave time for that!

Post by **Sean** » Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:05 pm

Any biting flies? I forgot to tell you to start at sunrise.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:21 pm

Sean wrote: Any biting flies? I forgot to tell you to start at sunrise.

Yeah, got bit by a big mofo. It didn't leave a mark though.

Saw a bunch of scat too (not from flies).

Post by **Sean** » Tue Aug 27, 2019 12:34 pm

Anthony wrote: Saw a bunch of scat too (not from flies).

Haha, fly scat! You just made my day.

Post by **HikeUp** » Tue Aug 27, 2019 10:22 pm

Traditional hike, well done. I remember being on the summit - wasted and thinking I wouldn't make it back to the car anytime soon - when a golden eagle floated by with the greatest of ease. I think he said that it was only 1.3 miles as the "eagle" flies back to my car. God damn bird.

Post by **tekewin** » Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:39 am

Nice trip and photos! I don't remember the bugs being that bad last month, but maybe it is hotter now. Heat can be an energy drain. You should definitely invest in a bug net. Best $3 I've ever spent. I use it quite a bit and it removes the bug annoyance, though it makes you look like a serial killer on the trail.

I might try Thrall and PVR from the Punchbowl this weekend even though it is hot.

Post by **Uncle Rico** » Wed Aug 28, 2019 6:45 am

I made this exact same trip at the end of July. It was hot, but no bugs. I guess timing is everything. TR with photos here:

http://wildsouthland.blogspot.com/2019/ ... ngels.html

I use it quite a bit and it removes the bug annoyance, though it makes you look like a serial killer on the trail.

Trust me teke, it ain't the bug net that make you look like a serial killer. ?

Post by **Sean** » Wed Aug 28, 2019 12:19 pm

Uncle Rico wrote:Trust me teke, it ain't the bug net that make you look like a serial killer. ?

Yeah, but you have to admit that the Gary Michael Hilton cosplay is a genius idea.

Post by **tekewin** » Wed Aug 28, 2019 12:44 pm

I'd never heard of this guy. So weird. Glad it is exceedingly rare. I still feel safer in the wilderness than most streets.

Post by **Sean** » Wed Aug 28, 2019 1:28 pm

Hey, look at this! I found an updated edition of the book, and they made a slight change to the cover.

Post by **tekewin** » Wed Aug 28, 2019 1:32 pm

Like looking in a mirror, hahaha!

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Wed Aug 28, 2019 5:35 pm

tekewin wrote: Nice trip and photos! I don't remember the bugs being that bad last month, but maybe it is hotter now. Heat can be an energy drain. You should definitely invest in a bug net. Best $3 I've ever spent. I use it quite a bit and it removes the bug annoyance, though it makes you look like a serial killer on the trail.

I might try Thrall and PVR from the Punchbowl this weekend even though it is hot.

I've thought about getting a bug net/hat but they seem so silly to me. But damn, they would've made the trip better.

Thrall from Punchbowl during this time of year sounds kinda brutal, unless you start super early.

I wanna explore the canyon that the Burkhardt Trail goes through heading from the saddle towards the bowl. It looks awesome.

P.S. This thread is awesome.

Post by **tekewin** » Wed Aug 28, 2019 8:06 pm

It's worth looking silly to keep the bugs out of your face. Really, they can be ignored with the net on.

Not sure if I'll go because of the heat, but if I go, I will start at sunrise to get higher up before it gets hot. May be miserable coming down.

Post by **Uncle Rico** » Thu Aug 29, 2019 11:47 am

Sean wrote: Hey, look at this! I found an updated edition of the book, and they made a slight change to the cover.

gmhilton_bugnet.jpg

This is your best work to date Sean.

Post by **tekewin** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 8:26 am

Friday, I made the run from the Punchbowl to PVR on the Burkhart trail. Got swarmed by bugs as soon as I got into the forest. Some sections of the trail were buggy, others were not so the bug net was on/off as needed. I didn't know the trail dropped 1000' to cross Cruthers Creek. Was starting to wonder if I was on the wrong trail. I was in shade most of the way up so no heat issues in the morning. 7 miles one way to the Burkhart Saddle. Very steep climb to Will Thrall, then another half mile to PVR. Love the desert views on both. A low ridge blocked the Punchbowl from PVR. Found a register on PVR from 2016 with quite a few entries. Thought about taking the ridge down from PVR but it was super steep and I didn't think it would save me much time, so I returned the same way. I found a triangle marker between PVR and Thrall on the way back on the SE side of the ridge. Sean has already documented this one in his triangle post. I think this would be the lower PVR blank. Didn't see the upper one. Heat kicked in below 7000' but there was enough shade to mitigate. I probably should have waited until October, but I was looking forward to getting back in the area. Full report. 16.9 miles RT.

The latest in bug couture. Chicks in Beverly Hills pay top dollar for this.

Crossing Cruthers Creek, water was flowing, nice and cool in the morning

View from PVR back toward Punchbowl

Triangle marker between PVR and Thrall

Post by **Uncle Rico** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 9:25 am

Post by **tekewin** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:01 am

Uncle Rico wrote: Bug Net Serial Killer.Merged2.jpg

Serial bug slaughtering, haha

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:40 am

tekewin wrote: Friday, I made the run from the Punchbowl to PVR on the Burkhart trail. Got swarmed by bugs as soon as I got into the forest. Some sections of the trail were buggy, others were not so the bug net was on/off as needed. I didn't know the trail dropped 1000' to cross Cruthers Creek. Was starting to wonder if I was on the wrong trail. I was in shade most of the way up so no heat issues in the morning. 7 miles one way to the Burkhart Saddle. Very steep climb to Will Thrall, then another half mile to PVR. Love the desert views on both. A low ridge blocked the Punchbowl from PVR. Found a register on PVR from 2016 with quite a few entries. Thought about taking the ridge down from PVR but it was super steep and I didn't think it would save me much time, so I returned the same way. I found a triangle marker between PVR and Thrall on the way back on the SE side of the ridge. Sean has already documented this one in his triangle post. I think this would be the lower PVR blank. Didn't see the upper one. Heat kicked in below 7000' but there was enough shade to mitigate. I probably should have waited until October, but I was looking forward to getting back in the area. Full report. 16.9 miles RT.

The latest in bug couture. Chicks in Beverly Hills pay top dollar for this.

Crossing Cruthers Creek, water was flowing, nice and cool in the morning

View from PVR back toward Punchbowl

Triangle marker between PVR and Thrall

Well, you out-did me. Respect!

That mask is kinda terrifying though. ?

Post by **tekewin** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 11:30 am

Anthony,

If my comments came off as "outdoing" you, I'm sorry. I meant for them to be complimentary to your report, which was 100% accurate on trail conditions. I didn't think doing Thrall and PVR so close to the time you did warranted a new post.

Also, that face is more terrifying without the mask. Ask Rico. ?

Tom Kenney · Post by **Tom Kenney** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 10:18 pm

tekewin wrote: If my comments came off as "outdoing" you, I'm sorry.

Hmmm...I've also posted a few reports that left me feeling this way. Like "Did I just step on somebody else's red carpet?" I dwell on it for a bit (I'm a tad self conscious), but then I remember it's TRs and stuff that keeps the site alive. Fire away, and if you step on somebody's toes, share a beer and laugh it off!

I do think Anthony meant you 'out-hiked' him, though.

Anthony · Post by **Anthony** » Sun Sep 01, 2019 11:45 pm

Tom Kenney wrote:
tekewin wrote: If my comments came off as "outdoing" you, I'm sorry.
Hmmm...I've also posted a few reports that left me feeling this way. Like "Did I just step on somebody else's red carpet?" I dwell on it for a bit (I'm a tad self conscious), but then I remember it's TRs and stuff that keeps the site alive. Fire away, and if you step on somebody's toes, share a beer and laugh it off!

I do think Anthony meant you 'out-hiked' him, though.

Correct -- no hard feelings over here! I don't feel slighted in the least bit.

Although I do think that hike deserved its own thread, simply because of how badass it sounds.

Post by **Sean** » Mon Sep 02, 2019 8:01 pm

tekewin wrote: Friday, I made the run from the Punchbowl to PVR on the Burkhart trail.

I tried to publish a comment on your blog, but it still doesn't work for me. It looks like Pallett was the name of an old rancher in Valyermo. He's got at least three things named after him over there.

Post by **tekewin** » Tue Sep 03, 2019 9:00 am

Sean,

The blog settings allow all comments including anonymous. That's frustrating.

The official USFS map labels Pallett as Pallett and Pallet Benchmark as Pallet Benchmark (while HPS calls it Pleasant View Ridge). Meanwhile, USFS labels the ridge NE from Williamson as Pleasant View Ridge. Well, it's all in the same general location.