Location: San Bernardino County, California
Named for the nearby (1839) Cucamonga Rancho of Tiburcio Tapia. From a Shoshonean Indian rancheria Kukill-Mongo. The meaning ofthe name is obscure, it could mean either “sandy place”, “place of many springs”, or “lewd woman” (from a legend that an Indian chief sent his wayward daughter to live on the peak).
Area was first noted by Padre Nuez (1819) and renamed “Nuestra Señora del Pilar de Cucamunga”. Later the name was applied by American settlers to the peak.
First known ascent was by members of the Wheeler Survey led by Lt. Eric Bergland (1975).
Name first became a household word (ca 1930’s) by being repetitively used as a joke by comedian Jack Benny.
Peak was on the original 1946 HPS Peak List. Weldon Heald climbed this peak in 1939.
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