On June 24-25, 1961 I climbed 11,201' Jepson Peak on a 22 mile round trip backpack that included Dry Lake, Lodgepole Spring, Fish Creek, 10,000 foot ridge, Dry Lake/North Fork Meadow, Saddle Peak (camped on top), and High Meadow Spring.
The peak was named for Willis Lynn Jepson, University of California botanist, who made a study of plant life in the San Bernardino Mountains about 1914. He was known for his books "Trees of California" (1923) and "Manual of the Flowering Plants of California" (1921). He was a charter member of the Sierra Club and a lifelong hiker.
At 11,205 feet Jepson Peak is the 2nd highest mountain in Southern California. It's located in the San Gorgonio Wilderness on the San Bernardino Crest. Most hikers will bag this peak either on their way to or on their return from the summit of San Gorgonio. Some hikers will include this summit on their San Bernardino Ridge Traverse hike. It is part of the 9 Peaks Challenge.
