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 Burkhart Saddle to Pallett Mountain (2nd time in 5 months interestingly), and maybe use a connecting ridge to access Goodykoontz. Despite starting about 6:15 am, the weather heated up quickly making for an uncomfortable ascent up the sunny side of Cooper Canyon, quickly draining my energy. after a few hours of slogging up to Burkhart Saddle, I was completely wiped out. I had more than enough water, but it was all room temp, so it was not refreshing at all. After about 45 minutes of rest on a log at the saddle, I contemplated simply returning considering that it was a hot day, but I still felt like summitting something, so I slogged slowly up the use path to Pallett. After hitting the top, I put my day pack down and enjoyed the breeze and a snack on the top and after, I continued east from the high point to scout a connector ridge to Goodykoontz, and indeed there is, but my body was not going to handle a several hundred foot drop to the saddle that I would have to reclimb back to Pallett (avoiding the frog closure south of Goodykoontz), and the reclimb up Burkhart Trail to Buckhorn! So, after resting, I descended the peak to the saddle and down to Cooper Canyon, enjoying slightly the downhill (only slightly, because it was sunny and hot!!), also dreading the nearly 1000' climb returning to my car up at the exit of Buckhorn at Angeles Crest Hwy. The uphill return was mostly shady, which was a relief (thanks to the lush trees and eastern aspect in late afternoon!), but nevertheless taxing! I was actually happy to see Angeles Crest and did not mind the motorcycles passing me illegally at 75 mph on blind curves!! Still, as much as I griped that day, as always, it was worth getting out to the San Gabriel Mountains. It is a very scenic, view-filled hike for sure! The tall coniferous timber in Cooper Canyon alone was worth the strenuous hike! Also, I did not see anyone at all on the trail to Pallet, and no one until within 2 miles of the campground in Cooper Canyon, and then I saw tons of people in the shady canyon part, with better sense than me to avoid such a rigorous climb on such a warm day!!!!