Will Thrall and Pleasant View Ridge

HPS Star Emblem Peak
Hiked: 8/30/2019
Distance: 16.9 miles round trip on trail and use trail
Summit Elevation: 7845' (Will Thrall), 7983' (PVR)
Prominence: 1024' (PVR)
Elevation Gain: 5604'
Elevation Gain (in Empire State Buildings): 4.4
Round trip time: 9 hours
Recommended water: 164 oz.
Parking/Fees: Free at Devil's Punchbowl parking lot
Difficulty: Strenuous

I returned to Devil's Punchbowl to take the Burkhart trail to Will Thrall Peak and Pleasant View Ridge (PVR), both HPS peaks. This is a longer route than coming from Burkhart Campground. I started at sunrise aiming for higher ground before it got too hot. Having just been there, I knew where the Burkhart trail junction was. Not far past the junction, I was swarmed by bugs. Mosquitos, flies, but mostly large gnats. I stopped to put the bug net on and proceeded to smash handfuls of bugs over the next few hours which of course made no difference. I wondered if I was on the right path when the trail dropped 1000' to cross Cruthers Creek. With shade from higher mountains, the trail remained cool and I was much higher up before getting hit with full sun. When I first saw Burkhart Saddle, I thought I was almost there, but it seemed to take forever to wind around every contour of Will Thrall Peak. I took my first long break at the saddle and ate half my lunch there. There was a steady breeze blowing that kept the bugs at bay. It was about 7 miles from the Punchbowl parking lot to Burkhart Saddle.

The latest in bug couture

Cruthers Creek crossing, it was very cool near the stream

Burkhart Saddle ahead, but farther on trail than it looks

The well defined Will Thrall use trail was filled with short switchbacks. The first 600' were very steep and I took several short standing breaks before topping out. I found the memorial plaque but no benchmark or register. There were only partial views from Will Thrall due to pine trees and I could not see Pallett Mountain from the summit. After some photos, I continued on toward PVR. It was a little less than half a mile to PVR but required a drop of about 100' to the intervening saddle. The use trail was less defined here but it was mostly open country. Just past the saddle, I left the use trail and made a direct line for the summit. PVR had a benchmark stamped "Pallett" and a register. I'm not sure what twist of history left PVR and Pallett with their names instead of them being reversed. The register went back to 2016 and had a fair number of entries. The views to the high desert were amazing. A ridge blocked a direct view of the Punchbowl. I considered taking the long ridge down from PVR instead of going back over Will Thrall. However, the drop off was exceedingly steep and I didn't think I would save much time after dealing with the terrain. Instead, I backtracked, enjoying the views in the opposite direction. After I dropped below 7000', I started to feel the heat and changed into a lighter shirt. It got hotter as I descended but I stayed mindful and took advantage of all shade. Bugs welcomed me again on the way down so the bug net was on and off as needed. I used all of my water and was back at the parking lot at 3:30 PM with only one other car in the lot.

Will Thrall use trail from the saddle

Memorial plaque

Pleasant View Ridge from Will Thrall

Final approach to PVR

Pallett benchmark on PVR

High desert view, the second ridge below is hiding the Punchbowl

On the way back, I found this triangle marker on SE side of the ridge between PVR and Thrall