Wáꞌpeat

Wáꞌpeat (Hispanicized: Guapiabit) was a major village populated by the Serrano or Vanyume, closest situated to what is now Hesperia and Crestline, and within the vicinity of Cajon Pass and Silverwood Lake, California.

Juniper berries were grown in abundance, along with pinyon pine nuts and black oak acorns, which grew on the slopes of the San Bernardino Mountains.

Other foods included honey mesquite, carrizo grass sugar, yucca, and likely to a smaller extent prickly pear cactus.

On the journey, Joaquin Pasqual Nuez accompanied the soldiers and kept a diary, noting that the expedition camped at Wá’peat on November 25, where they suffered "a painful night because of the excessive cold."

This is a placename that covers a tremendous territory, comprising the whole region between there and the summit of the Cajon Pass and extending from Huắveat to the Yumaward to many miles over Los Angelesward of the auto road—way over to Sebastian’s [Amutskayam] country.

Desert Serrano people referred to the California juniper (pictured) as waꞌat , from which the village name Wáꞌpeat is derived. [ 1 ]
In 1808, people who escaped Mission San Gabriel (pictured) took refuge at Wá’peat. When confronted by a Spanish soldier for their return, the chief of the village refused. [ 1 ] [ 5 ]