"This was the first peak of a 5 peak day. I began on the Burkhart Trail in Buckhorn Campground. As I pulled up, half the parking lot was filled with Sierra Club members getting ready to begin their day. They received their marching orders as I got ready. I wasn't sure if they were doing the same route plan as me or not. As it turned out, they were going to Pleasant View Ridge. That was the opposite direction that I went from Burkhart Saddle. So as I climbed Pallett, I saw them climbing Will Thrall heading toward Pleasant View Ridge. I didn't see them after that. I took a break on Pallett after not finding a register or a benchmark. From the summit, I continued the semi-loop by heading toward Peak 8180, followed by visits to Peak 7560, Goodykoontz, and Bobcat Knob. Today was a nice cool day to complete the hike while comfortably wearing long hiking pants and a hiking sweatshirt the entire day. I had no problem completing the route despite the many faint use trails. After studying the problems that previous visitors encountered, I knew what to look for, so the hike went off without a hitch!" — MikeTeeples • Oct 6, 2018

"6/23/18 was an interesting day with a twist. My original plan was to go down Burkhart trail to the bottom of Cooper Canyon, and ascend 400' to a ridgeline to do a cross-country 700' ascent of Bobcat Knob (6,709') and then 900' up to Goodykoontz Peak (7,558') and its very close neighbor Peak 7,560'. Goodykoontz and 7560 form the nearby saddle-like humps off to the northeast when viewed from the early to mid portion of the Burkhart Trail heading north, with 7560 on the left, and Goodykoontz on the right. Bobcat Knob is way down from them closer to the trail and is easily seen from the trail as well. I got to the area on the Burkhart Trail recommended on Sierra Club Hundred Peaks for starting a cross-country ascent up the very steep ridge, but the scree was too loose for me to get a foothold. I tried 5-6 different areas in the general vicinity, and all were the same, even slipping on my butt a few times!! I was only able to get a few feet up from the trail departure each time before conceding defeat!! I figured that it was not worth straining my leg muscles on such an attempt nor an injurious fall, so I wisely gave it up for safety reasons. My next plan was to hike up to Burkh..." — brianpowell • Jun 23, 2018

"A buddy from work and I took the Burkhart Trail from Devil's Punchbowl County Park, rounding Cruthers Canyon and Creek and took the long slog up the east slope under Will Thrall Peak leading to Burkhart Saddle. There is a faint but generally evident use trail that leads to the summit (and beyond to Mt. Williamson and PCT). The use path is steep and slippery, so a cautious ascent, and especially descent, is prudent. It is a tough hike! You start at the Punchbowl, and gradually ascend several hundred feet around Coulter Pine clad slopes, and then descend several hundred more down pinyon and manzanita slopes down to woodsy Cruthers Creek, with a quick crossing thereof. Then begins a steep and continuous uphill slog up sunny east facing slopes with sparse shade, even hot at 8 in the morning in winter!! Then as you near the saddle, the tough slog is tempered by the shade of more pines, and now some firs leading to the saddle at roughly 7 miles. Then it is about 3/4 mile to the summit. The summit high point is hard to find, as there is only a tiny rock pile with an old rusted can (old summit register holder) with no logbook. We searched the summit plateau for about 20 minutes tr..." — brianpowell • Feb 3, 2018

"2 years since last visit, ascended from SE face this time for a "pathfinder". 1.8 miles 1-way w/500' loss and 700' steep gain from Peak 7560 via x-country HPS (Sierra Club) route. Hiked with group of 12 WTC hikers, led by Mat K and Dave S." — BradStemm • Jun 18, 2016

"2.7 miles w/1,100' gain from nearby Pleasant View Ridge(7,983') on maintained eastbound trail. 5.8 mile return to Burkhart Trail parking area w/1,050' additional gain on 10W02 trail." — BradStemm • Jun 18, 2014

"Slippery climb from Mt Williamson to Burkhart Saddle via Pleasant View Ridge. Stay on north ridge or you will miss the saddle on the way down (like I did). Second peak of the day." — srphilip • Aug 20, 2011