Pallett Plane Crash Loop

Hiked: 7/5/2019
Distance: 13 miles round trip on trail, use trail, and cross country
Summit Elevation: 6709' (Bobcat Knob), 7558' (Goodykoontz), 7760' (Pallett)
Elevation Gain: 4791'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 3.8
Round trip time: 9 hours
Recommended water: 128 oz.
Parking/Fees: Adventure Pass at Buckhorn Campground
Difficulty: Strenuous

Warm weather was ideal for a high country trip in the Angeles. I planned a loop starting on the Burkhart Trail to:

1. Bobcat Knob
2. Goodykoontz Peak
3. Pallett Mountain

I also had a side trip in mind to check out the C-119 Flying Boxcar crash site about a mile off the loop. The C-119 crashed in stormy weather on 9/30/1966 with 4 fatalities. I parked at the end of the Buckhorn campground and got on the trail at 6:45 AM. The nicest part of the Angeles National Forest is this section of high ground along both sides of highway 2. Big pines and big cedars with little underbrush. It rivals the San Jacinto Wilderness for beauty. The Burkhart trail starts by dropping 800' to cross Cooper Canyon, a reminder to save some energy for the climb out. After crossing, I rounded one turn, then started up a ridge toward Bobcat Knob. There was no sign or cairn, just a small clearing. This was the longest ridge (easiest) to get to Bobcat. The route after leaving the trail is all class 1 up to Goodykoontz, but the dirt is loose and the terrain is very steep. This ridge gains 1000' to Bobcat Knob and another 900' to Goodykoontz for a total of 1900' in less than a mile.

The grind to Bobcat Knob was pleasant with an occasional cairn for guidance. Interesting rock formations grew in the canyons on both sides. Bobcat was marked with a rock cairn, but no register. I took a few breaths, then got back to the grind toward Goodykoontz. This seemed like the steepest section of the entire hike, but maybe it just felt like it after climbing up to Bobcat first. A good use trail appeared on the ridge to Goodykoonntz and got better as I went along. I found register cans in between two small outcrops on the summit, no benchmarks. This mountain was named after Frank Goodykoontz who was an active leader in the Sierra Club. A memorial newsletter was in a separate plastic baggie inside the register. It was idyllic on the summit and I was tempted to just nap in the morning sun. But I had a lot on the itinerary, so fueled up and started down the other side in search of the C-119 plane crash.

Girthy!

Cooper Canyon waterfall

Approaching Bobcat Knob

Pallett from Bobcat Knob

Arriving on Goodykoontz

I dropped to the saddle between Goodykoontz and Williamson, then continued up toward Williamson. Along the way, I found a side use trail that headed toward the ridge with the plane crash. It was unexpected, but saved some gain and distance. The use trail continued along the south, then north side of the ridge and led right into the debris field on the north side. The C-119 apparently crashed near the top of the south ridge sending debris over the top. Most of the plane remained on the south side and large pieces have been washed down the side over time. I focused on the south side, descending about 200' down the slope. There were more parts farther down. There was another crash site farther down the north side, but I didn't explore it to conserve energy. The debris field was large. After some photos, I started back for Pallett with a few small aircraft pieces in tow.

Saddle between Pallett and Williamson

Landing gear?

Part of the tail?

Steep slope, much more debris downhill

I returned on the use trail until I was close to the creek below Pallett. I went straight down, crossed, and started up. I was surprised again to find a good use trail on Pallett. The trail led to the very long and wide summit plateau. I found what I thought was the high point, but no markers or register. Nothing to indicate the summit. I wandered all over the top looking for something that marked the high point, but didn't find anything. I continued down the other side to the Burkhart saddle, rejoining the official trail. I noticed how close Will Thrall was from the saddle and I was still feeling energetic. In the end I decided to skip it so I would have an excuse to come back for Will Thrall and Pleasant View Ridge. It is such a pristine area of forest. On the way out, I met a few hikers/campers. The climb out of Cooper Canyon was mild compared to the slopes I had been climbing all day and presented no challenge. I was pleased at how the hike unfolded and enjoyed every hour.

Pallett in front, Will Thrall behind left, and Pleasant View Ridge behind right

Pallett high point, but no markers or register

Burkhart Saddle

Goodkoontz left, Bobcat Knob right, from the trail