Mount Williamson, Pallett Mountain, Will Thrall Peak, Pleasant View Ridge

8 December 1990

By: Jim Raiford

Leaders: Barbara Cohen, Jim Raiford

Eleven people met at the La Cañada carpool point and caravaned to the trailhead for Mt Williamson just beyond Kratka Ridge (where Barbara had finished the HPS list three weeks before). We signed in, made brief introductions, and off! The weather was cool to cold, sun shining, and a breeze, with a few small patches of ice/snow still evident. Made the summit of Williamson in short order where we saw two other HPS hikers. One person decided to sign out on Williamson and wait for the trip coming up at 8:30 to hike down with them. After a brief snack and sign in, the remaining ten of us headed west along the ridge to the high point of Williamson (but not the named summit). We continued along this ridge using a good use trail, up and down over a couple bumps and saddles then up to the summit of Pallett where we had a short rest and sign in. As we were leaving the summit, we were joined by the person who had signed out. The eleven of us then proceeded down to Burkhart saddle, then up the steep slope to the summit of Will Thrall marked by a plaque. Then out the ridge, still on good use trail, to the bump called Pleasant View Ridge to sign in, eat and snooze in the sunshine. We retraced our steps back over Will Thrall down to Burkhart Saddle. From here the trail loses elevation for about 45 minutes to the creek bed followed by 2 hours out with slight uphill all the way, rather tiresome for the end of the day. We got back to the cars as the sun was setting and the air getting cold. It was a good group, with everyone in good condition; even the sign-out had more energy than she at first thought.