Will Thrall Pk (7845'), Pleasant View Ridge (7983')
Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:12 pm
On Saturday, 7/12/2008, I and cohorts Will and Adam climbed Will Thrall Pk (7845') and the western high point of Pleasant View Ridge (7983') with a quick pre-summit bivvy Friday, 7/11/2008, at "Confluence Camp" in Cooper Canyon near the confluence with Buckhorn Creek.
We started Friday after work at the Buckhorn Campground trailhead of the Burkhart Trail ("A"). http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=34.36845,-11 ... tains%20CA We proceeded about a mile and a quarter to a lovely streamside camping area near the confluence of Cooper Canyon and Buckhorn Creek ("B"). This isn't an official trail camp, but it's a beautiful sylvan spot with reliable year round water in both creeks. The spot is big enough for a larger group of people (twelve?). The three of us had it to ourselves. Look for a large fallen cedar log crossing Cooper Canyon Creek. The log leads directly to the camp site. If you get to the jct with the PCT you've got ~0.1 miles too far.
The mosquitos were fierce this year. There were no signs of bears, but we used the "triangle" anti-bear technique none-the-less (cook in one spot, sleep in another spot, store food in a third spot, all in triangular shape about 100yds apart). There's a lot of duff on the forest floor which makes for comfortable sleeping but sticks pose a hazard to your gear. One minor Thermarest puncture occured.
Saturday, we awoke with the dawn, stashed our overnight gear, and off we went. We soon passed the jct with the PCT and then lovely Cooper Canyon Falls. If you haven't visited the falls, they're worth a look even though the flow isn't particularly voluminous. Thereafter, we crossed Little Rock Creek, ascended the opposite bank and came to the junction of the Burkhart and Rattlesnake Trails ("C").
To the right (east) is the Rattlesnake Trail which would normally be the route of the PCT, but this section of the trail is closed in order to preserve an endangered frog's habitat. However, there was no sign posting said closure at this junction. There was a sign at the traihead in Buckhorn CG. There were the remains of a sign at the Buckhorn/Cooper Canyon jct, but the actual closure notice had been torn from the sign. This closure is however immaterial for Thrall and PVR inasmuch as one proceeds straight (north) and remains on the Burkhart Trail.
As the Burkhart Trail pulls away from the heavily travelled PCT and the popular Cooper Canyon Falls area, one enters territory far less visited. The trail is well constructed and well graded, but is clearly not as often used. The trail contours along the west side of the major south trending ridge that descends from a point on Pleasant View Ridge between Pallett Mtn and Mt. Williamson; this major south trending ridge is the ridge that contains Goodykoontz Pk (7558'). The trail is in generally good condition, but in many spots the trail traverses across scree. In several of these traverses, the trail is a bit loose. None of these loose spots is particularly hazardous although they may be a bit disconcerting to the novice hiker. In one spot, the trail was completely buried in scree. There wasn't even so much as an indentation where the trail had been. Fortunately, the angle of the slope here isn't excessive, and retaining structures above and below the trail exist making navigation of this short stretch of trail eminently doable.
Periodically, the USFS has placed large 4" x 4" wooden mileage posts in the ground tracking the mileage from the Buckhorn Campground trailhead of the Burkhart Trail. Shortly after milepost 3, a small side stream crosses the trail ("D"). This stream was flowing and had filterable amounts of water although given the location filtering would hardly be necessary. Shortly thereafter, the trail crosses a major drainage ("E"). There was a good flow of water here. Between points "D" and "E" there was a small spot suitable for a bivvy downslope (west) of the trail should one be so inclined. The trail then climbs out of the drainage and ascends into a side canyon ("F"). The trail doesn't quite go all the way to the stream bed in the side canyon, but water could be heard coursing down the canyon just below the trail. Point "F" is the last water that we found on the trail this trip.
From the side canyon ("F"), the trail begins it's final climb to Burkhart Saddle, crossing two more drainages ("G" and "H") which were both dry. Finally, one arrives at Burkhart Saddle ("I"). Milepost 5 sits directly in the saddle.
From Burkhart Saddle the route proceeds steeply up the ridge to the west to Thrall Peak. There is a fairly clear use trail. On the topo, a marked trail is shown going south of Thrall Peak from the saddle. We could see traces of the trail, but it did not appear that the trail was still in use, and we opted to use the standard peak bagger's use trail. After perhaps 0.5 miles west of the saddle on the use trail ("J"), the trail begins flatten out a bit. There's a nice spot with a log and some pine needles that would make a good bivvy site here. From "J," the trail proceeds almost due west to Will Thrall Peak ("K"). There are some nice views here of the desert and the Middle High Country, particularly of the Little Rock Creek drainage. We could not find a summit register. There is a commerative plaque honoring naturalist Will Thrall on the summit. Interestingly, just north and west of the summit of Thrall, there is a small bench like area ("N") that seems almost purpose built for camping. This area isn't on route, but it appears to be a natural flat area practically begging someone to spend an evening of star gazing. One of the great things about the entire reach of Pleasant View Ridge is the multitude of secluded spots wherein one could simply stretch out under the stars far removed from the frenetic cares of "civilization" a mere hour's drive away; an opportunity not to be missed.
To the NW of the summit of Thrall Pk, a higher summit can be seen ("M"). This summit is the western high point of Plesant View Ridge. To reach this high point, hereinafter simply referred to as "PVR," simply proceed NW along the ridge to the saddle ("L") between the two summits. Fortunately, one doesn't have to lose a lot of elevation to descend to the saddle. If one stays to the south side of the ridge, the going is generally easier, although use trails are found on both sides of the ridge. From the saddle, there is a trail that proceeds to the NW, staying well south of the crest of the ridge. This trail winds up at a point west of the summit of PVR but is generally easier going than simply following the ridge. Either route however works fine; both are fairly straight forward. From the summit of PVR, good views to the west, particularly of the Mt. Pacifico area, are had as well as views into the desert.
One could easily descend further down Pleasant View Ridge, territory seldom explored if the lack of a use trail is any indicator, but threatening clouds moving in from the east impelled us back to Burkhart Saddle and then to our waiting car.
Pleasant View Ridge, whether the section west of Burkhart Saddle as in this trip or the section east (Pallet Mtn to Mt. Williamson) is a peak bagger's paradise: seldom visited, fine open country, easily navigable with grand vistas in many directions.
Hikin' Jim says: "check it out."
We started Friday after work at the Buckhorn Campground trailhead of the Burkhart Trail ("A"). http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=34.36845,-11 ... tains%20CA We proceeded about a mile and a quarter to a lovely streamside camping area near the confluence of Cooper Canyon and Buckhorn Creek ("B"). This isn't an official trail camp, but it's a beautiful sylvan spot with reliable year round water in both creeks. The spot is big enough for a larger group of people (twelve?). The three of us had it to ourselves. Look for a large fallen cedar log crossing Cooper Canyon Creek. The log leads directly to the camp site. If you get to the jct with the PCT you've got ~0.1 miles too far.
The mosquitos were fierce this year. There were no signs of bears, but we used the "triangle" anti-bear technique none-the-less (cook in one spot, sleep in another spot, store food in a third spot, all in triangular shape about 100yds apart). There's a lot of duff on the forest floor which makes for comfortable sleeping but sticks pose a hazard to your gear. One minor Thermarest puncture occured.
Saturday, we awoke with the dawn, stashed our overnight gear, and off we went. We soon passed the jct with the PCT and then lovely Cooper Canyon Falls. If you haven't visited the falls, they're worth a look even though the flow isn't particularly voluminous. Thereafter, we crossed Little Rock Creek, ascended the opposite bank and came to the junction of the Burkhart and Rattlesnake Trails ("C").
To the right (east) is the Rattlesnake Trail which would normally be the route of the PCT, but this section of the trail is closed in order to preserve an endangered frog's habitat. However, there was no sign posting said closure at this junction. There was a sign at the traihead in Buckhorn CG. There were the remains of a sign at the Buckhorn/Cooper Canyon jct, but the actual closure notice had been torn from the sign. This closure is however immaterial for Thrall and PVR inasmuch as one proceeds straight (north) and remains on the Burkhart Trail.
As the Burkhart Trail pulls away from the heavily travelled PCT and the popular Cooper Canyon Falls area, one enters territory far less visited. The trail is well constructed and well graded, but is clearly not as often used. The trail contours along the west side of the major south trending ridge that descends from a point on Pleasant View Ridge between Pallett Mtn and Mt. Williamson; this major south trending ridge is the ridge that contains Goodykoontz Pk (7558'). The trail is in generally good condition, but in many spots the trail traverses across scree. In several of these traverses, the trail is a bit loose. None of these loose spots is particularly hazardous although they may be a bit disconcerting to the novice hiker. In one spot, the trail was completely buried in scree. There wasn't even so much as an indentation where the trail had been. Fortunately, the angle of the slope here isn't excessive, and retaining structures above and below the trail exist making navigation of this short stretch of trail eminently doable.
Periodically, the USFS has placed large 4" x 4" wooden mileage posts in the ground tracking the mileage from the Buckhorn Campground trailhead of the Burkhart Trail. Shortly after milepost 3, a small side stream crosses the trail ("D"). This stream was flowing and had filterable amounts of water although given the location filtering would hardly be necessary. Shortly thereafter, the trail crosses a major drainage ("E"). There was a good flow of water here. Between points "D" and "E" there was a small spot suitable for a bivvy downslope (west) of the trail should one be so inclined. The trail then climbs out of the drainage and ascends into a side canyon ("F"). The trail doesn't quite go all the way to the stream bed in the side canyon, but water could be heard coursing down the canyon just below the trail. Point "F" is the last water that we found on the trail this trip.
From the side canyon ("F"), the trail begins it's final climb to Burkhart Saddle, crossing two more drainages ("G" and "H") which were both dry. Finally, one arrives at Burkhart Saddle ("I"). Milepost 5 sits directly in the saddle.
From Burkhart Saddle the route proceeds steeply up the ridge to the west to Thrall Peak. There is a fairly clear use trail. On the topo, a marked trail is shown going south of Thrall Peak from the saddle. We could see traces of the trail, but it did not appear that the trail was still in use, and we opted to use the standard peak bagger's use trail. After perhaps 0.5 miles west of the saddle on the use trail ("J"), the trail begins flatten out a bit. There's a nice spot with a log and some pine needles that would make a good bivvy site here. From "J," the trail proceeds almost due west to Will Thrall Peak ("K"). There are some nice views here of the desert and the Middle High Country, particularly of the Little Rock Creek drainage. We could not find a summit register. There is a commerative plaque honoring naturalist Will Thrall on the summit. Interestingly, just north and west of the summit of Thrall, there is a small bench like area ("N") that seems almost purpose built for camping. This area isn't on route, but it appears to be a natural flat area practically begging someone to spend an evening of star gazing. One of the great things about the entire reach of Pleasant View Ridge is the multitude of secluded spots wherein one could simply stretch out under the stars far removed from the frenetic cares of "civilization" a mere hour's drive away; an opportunity not to be missed.
To the NW of the summit of Thrall Pk, a higher summit can be seen ("M"). This summit is the western high point of Plesant View Ridge. To reach this high point, hereinafter simply referred to as "PVR," simply proceed NW along the ridge to the saddle ("L") between the two summits. Fortunately, one doesn't have to lose a lot of elevation to descend to the saddle. If one stays to the south side of the ridge, the going is generally easier, although use trails are found on both sides of the ridge. From the saddle, there is a trail that proceeds to the NW, staying well south of the crest of the ridge. This trail winds up at a point west of the summit of PVR but is generally easier going than simply following the ridge. Either route however works fine; both are fairly straight forward. From the summit of PVR, good views to the west, particularly of the Mt. Pacifico area, are had as well as views into the desert.
One could easily descend further down Pleasant View Ridge, territory seldom explored if the lack of a use trail is any indicator, but threatening clouds moving in from the east impelled us back to Burkhart Saddle and then to our waiting car.
Pleasant View Ridge, whether the section west of Burkhart Saddle as in this trip or the section east (Pallet Mtn to Mt. Williamson) is a peak bagger's paradise: seldom visited, fine open country, easily navigable with grand vistas in many directions.
Hikin' Jim says: "check it out."
I avoid that by sticking to my plan. Nothing worse than a wife who has good reason to be MAD! 
