IronHiker - Jun 21, 2020 12:09 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2020
PCT from highway 74
Long hike, but gentle along the PCT. Gain was spread out so much that it didn't seem that hard. Great 360 views.
cab - Dec 19, 2011 6:08 pm Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2011
Tool Box Road
After Butterfly Peak I made my way down to the 4WD road and then to the corral (not mentioned in the HPS directions). From there, just like NavySeabee, I was confused. I should have read his report more carefully that the road turns NE just north of the corral. I looked everywhere but could not find where it started. After 20 minutes or so, I finally gave up and bushwhacked up to the PCT which was visible about 200 vertical feet above me. From there, I was able to make it to the saddle and easily follow the directions to the summit.
On the way down, I followed the 4WD starting at the PCT and followed it down to just north of the corral. When I came out there, I'm not surprised I couldn't find it because it is pretty overgrown.
Anyway, I made the peak a little harder than it had to be and was rewarded with a whiteout at the summit and somewhat heavy snow all the way back to the car. Good times!
Bob Burd - May 28, 2009 1:19 pm Date Climbed: Apr 18, 2009
NavySeabee - Jan 26, 2009 12:43 pm Date Climbed: Jan 24, 2009
HPS Route 2 (sans Butterfly Peak)
Took about 2 hours longer than I budgeted for because of the navigational challenges this 'unlabeled' peak presented.
A little chilly and a bit breezy as I bebopped towards the Prospector's Trail off Butterfly's south ridge. Once I topped the ridge that is where my confusion began. The key to this modified HPS Route 2 is to stay on the Prospector's Trail until you see a dark wooden sign that says "Prospector's Trail ->" about 10 feet high on a tree at about 5800+ feet. When you spot this sign, pick up a faint trail heading east (your right) which runs into the 4WD road that heads "north then east then southeast" and terminates at the "corral" and the "U-turn" Deb describes.
My mistake is I started dropping off the ridge almost immediately following brushy gullies and a few class 3 problems until I reached a large abandoned mine. From there I picked up a 4WD road and headed north that I thought was the one in the directions. It was not. However, it led me to the corral that Deb describes and after a bit of indecision about whether the U-turn lies north or south of the corral, I realized the U-turn is just north. From there, the trail is obvious as it heads NE thru the valley and climbs to the PCT junction. Take a right U-turn south along the PCT for about 50 yards, thru the gate and then take the left fork. This trail heads S/SE and up through the two prominent saddles (plus a minor one) to the western flank of Ken Point. Once you near the first saddle, you will finally catch your first glimpse of Ken Point's summit which until here is hidden from view.
I found no duck marking a use trail, but the brush is a bit sparse and no more than knee high so it's easy to pick through. The views east were amazing, but to the west they were obscured by advancing clouds. I had a nice view of Pine Mountain #1 and Devil's Rockpile to the north also.
From my approach, the twin 6300+' peaks west of Ken Point block the view of your goal most of the way. I mistook these as Ken Point and its false summit until I reached the 'second' saddle due to cloud cover. If you couple this with the fact that Ken Point is not labeled on most maps (despite the summit benchmark) it can make for some navigational challenges. I tagged Butterfly last year which is why I used this approach, had I summited Butterfly again, I probably would have avoided the problems on the ridge and valley. Ken Pt is a worthwhile summit and I'm glad I checked this box!
tpdwr - Jan 20, 2009 5:45 pm Date Climbed: Jan 8, 2009
PCT
About 1/2 mile of snow above the PCT. Great day on the summit!!
Deb - Dec 5, 2007 12:10 pm Date Climbed: Dec 4, 2007
Hike/Crawl/Scramble/Run
Took full advantage of summer-like weather although it was freezing at the trailhead, I was sweating and stripped down to minimal in 45 minutes. Tagging Butterfly Peak again was a bit of a drag, and especially having to literally crawl through the shrubbery down the southeastern ridge. Fortunately I found the "easier" route on the way back.
Ken Point's composition kind of surprised me; being the last in line along the Desert Divide as far as prominence and scenery, the summit is a jagged ridge of stone with the most awesome view of the San Jacinto Mtn range.
Great day to be in the local mountains; could even see snow-covered Mt Baldy from here. Too bad my can of mandarin oranges decided to loose its pull-tab...a handful of nuts and 7 hours of work tore me up.
IronHiker - Jun 21, 2020 12:09 pm Date Climbed: Jun 20, 2020
PCT from highway 74Long hike, but gentle along the PCT. Gain was spread out so much that it didn't seem that hard. Great 360 views.
cab - Dec 19, 2011 6:08 pm Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2011
Tool Box RoadAfter Butterfly Peak I made my way down to the 4WD road and then to the corral (not mentioned in the HPS directions). From there, just like NavySeabee, I was confused. I should have read his report more carefully that the road turns NE just north of the corral. I looked everywhere but could not find where it started. After 20 minutes or so, I finally gave up and bushwhacked up to the PCT which was visible about 200 vertical feet above me. From there, I was able to make it to the saddle and easily follow the directions to the summit.
On the way down, I followed the 4WD starting at the PCT and followed it down to just north of the corral. When I came out there, I'm not surprised I couldn't find it because it is pretty overgrown.
Anyway, I made the peak a little harder than it had to be and was rewarded with a whiteout at the summit and somewhat heavy snow all the way back to the car. Good times!
Bob Burd - May 28, 2009 1:19 pm Date Climbed: Apr 18, 2009
From the PCTWith Tom Becht, below. Trip Report
NavySeabee - Jan 26, 2009 12:43 pm Date Climbed: Jan 24, 2009
HPS Route 2 (sans Butterfly Peak)Took about 2 hours longer than I budgeted for because of the navigational challenges this 'unlabeled' peak presented.
A little chilly and a bit breezy as I bebopped towards the Prospector's Trail off Butterfly's south ridge. Once I topped the ridge that is where my confusion began. The key to this modified HPS Route 2 is to stay on the Prospector's Trail until you see a dark wooden sign that says "Prospector's Trail ->" about 10 feet high on a tree at about 5800+ feet. When you spot this sign, pick up a faint trail heading east (your right) which runs into the 4WD road that heads "north then east then southeast" and terminates at the "corral" and the "U-turn" Deb describes.
My mistake is I started dropping off the ridge almost immediately following brushy gullies and a few class 3 problems until I reached a large abandoned mine. From there I picked up a 4WD road and headed north that I thought was the one in the directions. It was not. However, it led me to the corral that Deb describes and after a bit of indecision about whether the U-turn lies north or south of the corral, I realized the U-turn is just north. From there, the trail is obvious as it heads NE thru the valley and climbs to the PCT junction. Take a right U-turn south along the PCT for about 50 yards, thru the gate and then take the left fork. This trail heads S/SE and up through the two prominent saddles (plus a minor one) to the western flank of Ken Point. Once you near the first saddle, you will finally catch your first glimpse of Ken Point's summit which until here is hidden from view.
I found no duck marking a use trail, but the brush is a bit sparse and no more than knee high so it's easy to pick through. The views east were amazing, but to the west they were obscured by advancing clouds. I had a nice view of Pine Mountain #1 and Devil's Rockpile to the north also.
From my approach, the twin 6300+' peaks west of Ken Point block the view of your goal most of the way. I mistook these as Ken Point and its false summit until I reached the 'second' saddle due to cloud cover. If you couple this with the fact that Ken Point is not labeled on most maps (despite the summit benchmark) it can make for some navigational challenges. I tagged Butterfly last year which is why I used this approach, had I summited Butterfly again, I probably would have avoided the problems on the ridge and valley. Ken Pt is a worthwhile summit and I'm glad I checked this box!
tpdwr - Jan 20, 2009 5:45 pm Date Climbed: Jan 8, 2009
PCTAbout 1/2 mile of snow above the PCT. Great day on the summit!!
Deb - Dec 5, 2007 12:10 pm Date Climbed: Dec 4, 2007
Hike/Crawl/Scramble/RunTook full advantage of summer-like weather although it was freezing at the trailhead, I was sweating and stripped down to minimal in 45 minutes. Tagging Butterfly Peak again was a bit of a drag, and especially having to literally crawl through the shrubbery down the southeastern ridge. Fortunately I found the "easier" route on the way back.
Ken Point's composition kind of surprised me; being the last in line along the Desert Divide as far as prominence and scenery, the summit is a jagged ridge of stone with the most awesome view of the San Jacinto Mtn range.
Great day to be in the local mountains; could even see snow-covered Mt Baldy from here. Too bad my can of mandarin oranges decided to loose its pull-tab...a handful of nuts and 7 hours of work tore me up.