Ken Point, Thomas Mountain, Butterfly Peak, Rock Point

17 April 1993

By: Patty Kline

Leaders: Patty Kline, Charlie Knapke

7 of us met at 7:30 am on Saturday morning at the roadhead for Ken Pt. The Rodney King verdict had been announced minutes before, and at the time, it seemed appropriate to be away from L. A. tucked in a corner of Riverside County. Ken Pt has a route that is almost all on the Pacific Crest Trail.

There is a fire road and a well ducked use trail leading to the peak itself. This was my second time on this peak, a nice addition to the list. It was very windy that day on the summit where we had lunch and celebrated Steve Nardi's 200th peak.

After the hike, we pulled our lawn chairs out of our trucks and had dip and chips along with various beverages. We thought it was too windy and cold to camp at the Thomas Mtn Campground near its summit, so we tried to go to Lake Hemet Campground (private and less money than Hurkey Creek Public Campground and with warm showers). We were turned away because we didn't have tents. "The Privacy Act doesn't allow camping where people can see you sleeping in your truck," so says the lady at the Lake Hemet Campground Gate. So it was up to Thomas Mtn Campground on a really bad road.

Charlie made tostadas for everyone and we had a community garbage bag salad along with a great campfire. As Don Borad pulled up about 10 pm for day 2 only in his passenger car, he saw a lot of smoke and fire. He figured it was our campfire, but it was an ignited log from the campsite next door made a week before and unsuccessfully put out. They had made their fire in the turned base of a tree! It had been fanned by the high winds. By morning, it had burned considerably more of this dead fallen tree. We reported it to the fire station at Morris Ranch Road the next morning.

Thomas was done first thing Sunday morning as a "drive-up." Great views. Our reduced group of 4 went on to do Butterfly. The road was almost too much for 4x4s, so we walked to the mine. We then drove to the roadhead for Rock Point. This is a very easy hike to a peak that has a 5th class summit block which almost no one ever does. The wild flowers were just coming out here and very nice.

I want to thank Charlie for helping me lead a great weekend. We got 4 peaks. Better luck on Rouse Hill next time. The road was closed shortly after the Thomas Mtn turn-off due to the earthquake last June.

The participants were Richard Wilson, Steve Nardi, Eric Sieke, How Bailey, Bob Michael and Don Borad.