The English name their houses. I’ve always admired their tradition, mostly because I grew up in Pakistan where hill station bungalows were named Robin House, Hillside Manor, and Rose Cottage. It’s familiar to me. When we purchased our home in the Kern River Valley, located on Cook Peak Road at the base of Cook Peak mountain, plus our surname was Cook; it seemed only natural to name our house Cook Peak.

Cook Peak is a collection of old and new stories about a life, a family and a house called Cook Peak.