Greg Vernon

Gregory Allen Vernon Ph.D.

Mr. Vernon passed away peacefully at home on Thursday June 5th 2025 of cancer. An avid scholar, earning two Ph.D. degrees, Physics and Chemistry. He was highly regarded by his colleagues for his scientific achievements at China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station. Earning a silver medal award from the United States Navy for 25 years of service to the United States Government.

Respected by the mountaineering and rock climbing community for his pioneering of new routes and many publications, written articles in magazines and publisher of three guidebooks to remote areas of the California backcountry and leading countless trips Into these areas.

A gold master bridge player, winning multiple awards for his mastery of the game.

There are no words to put together the puzzle that is Greg Vernon.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

Greg was quite helpful in getting me started climbing.  He was a senior leader in my Boy Scout troop (184) and was the only person involved in out troop who was interested in backpacking and mountaineering.  Through Greg, I took BMTC in 1976 and began climbing with the RCS shortly afterwards.  The "Lone Yeti" as he was known, was a kind man who climbed many, many Sierra peaks and established many rock climbs in the Sierras (Church Dome, Domelands, the Needles, Dome Rock, Kennedy Meadows, etc....)

Thanks Greg for introducing me to climbing and what became a significant shaping element in my life.

I might be a bit late to this (just got back from 3 months in CO), but Greg showed some of us quite a few places in the whole of Sierra to play on. He was always having trips to the Rockhouse Basin. Owens Ridge, The Domelands, The Needles and the Hight Sierra. All those years ago, he introduced so many of us to the backcountry. He always had space at his place in Ridgecrest for us to drop a bag for a night.

He was a long time member of the RCS and later (Honorary Member) of the SCMA and ran probably 100+ trips for the club over the years. His yearly July 4th trips to Courtright Reservoir were legendary when up to 50 people gathered to climb, swim and have fun. Greg authored several guidebooks to (then) obscure areas of Southern Sierra. Some of these were so unique and described places that were so out of the way that they were visited by just a few backcountry climbers. Some of the best trips and routes I have done were either on his advice or after he showed me/us some new places to go to. Greg was just  good people.