Naming 13,838 and13,820?

[blazintoes]

Seeing that the 14ers and Centennial’s are so popular I was wondering how we can get these two mountains named. I hate that they’re just numbers and not names I think they deserve names!

I actually went through the official process for naming an unnamed feature when I submitted Gunnison Sentinel Point, so I can offer a little firsthand information.

Anyone can submit a proposed name through the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. You don’t need any particular clout, but there is quite a bit more to the application than simply suggesting a good name.

This is the place to start:

https://www.usgs.gov/us-board-on-geogra ... -proposals

And this is the current proposal form:

https://www.usgs.gov/media/files/us-boa ... posal-form

For Gunnison Sentinel Point, I had to document the exact feature and coordinates, explain why the feature needed a name, why that particular name was appropriate, research existing/historical usage, and provide supporting information. Local relevance and support are important parts of the process.

John Kirk was instrumental for me during this process. Thank you John.

GoreGalore has also been helpful and supportive for me. Thank you Joe.

The proposal then goes through review involving the appropriate government, land-management and Tribal entities rather than simply being accepted or rejected by one person.

It takes a while. Gunnison Sentinel Point still hasn’t been updated in GNIS, so submitting the application definitely isn’t the same thing as seeing a new name appear on the map.

But if someone here is genuinely interested in proposing names for 13,838 and 13,820, it absolutely can be done through the proper channel. I’m happy to share what I submitted for Gunnison Sentinel Point and what I learned from the process if that would be helpful.

[blazintoes]

Giving unnamed peaks names is not just fun, it has a functional purpose.

Every so often measurement technology is improved and peaks are re re-measured. When an unnamed peak gets a new elevation its name also changes.

This makes existing trip reports, web pages and gps files confusing and difficult to manage. The reports and web page names on my site were updated with the new Lidar names (thanks Joseph!) but it was tedious. The file names and waypoints in my GPS files were not updated. Having real names makes sense.

I am a fan of locals giving unofficial names to mountain features (peaks, towers, ridges, couloirs, etc.) After all, many of the current unofficial names were assigned by the OGs who were pioneering in hob nailed boots back in day. Kinda tough to manage though. And while we are at it lets get some fun non-PC names vs. the same ol' stale stuff...( ie. East East Red), Dicker's Peck is currently the best named peak in the state and not even on purpose.

Hiker Guy:
Two obese golfers riding in a cart drinking beers, eating dogs and smoking cigars: "If golf is a sport... then we are athletes"

Alex’s practical point is quite good. Stable names have a data-management benefit when LiDAR changes elevations. That’s a much stronger functional justification than “13,838 deserves something cooler than a number,” and BGN specifically requires a compelling reason why a feature needs a name for federal use.

[blazintoes]

This is my chance to re-submit a suggestion someone made in an earlier thread: to let every Colorado 13’er finisher name a 13’er (how many finishers are there anyway?)

This may only be plausible as an unofficial list of names, but it would be so awesome!

None of the objections raised earlier seemed to hold much water.

This would be such a great way to honor the accomplishment of each of these athletes, who have demonstrated an extraordinary degree of skill, experience, and dedication.

Can someone with enough clout (because I have none) please spearhead this project???

heres a quick guide:
https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey ... -mountain/

i personally think naming mountains after people isnt appropriate, and even if you did name them after 13er finishers they need to be dead, but they certainly can be named something

…giving every 13er finisher a peak to name after themselves runs straight into BGN policy if they mean commemoratively naming the peak for the finisher. A feature can’t be named for a living person, and ordinarily the honoree must have been dead at least five years and meet additional association/civic-contribution criteria. So Cottonmountaineering was substantially right about that part.

However,

I support this project, but obviously we need rules.

First, most 13er finishers are merely fast hikers. Alex even has the hat to prove it. So until you drop dead, you remain a fast hiker and are therefore ineligible to have a peak named after you.

Second, upon death, eligibility will be determined entirely by the quality of your 14ers.com moniker.

Hellman? Absolutely.
Supranihilist? Peak-worthy.
LifeIsGood? Strong candidate.

Boring moniker? You’re out.

Numbers in your moniker because the actual name was already taken and you couldn’t summon enough imagination to come up with something else? Also out.

These standards may seem arbitrary, but frankly the BGN has rules and so should we.

Choose your username wisely. Your mountain may depend on it.

-Blazintoes

[LifeIsGood]

upon death, eligibility will be determined entirely by the quality of your 14ers.com moniker.

Hellman? Absolutely.
Supranihilist? Peak-worthy.
LifeIsGood? Strong candidate.

It did occur to me that some might think that I just want to name a peak as soon as I complete the Colorado 13’ers, but I only have about 200 peaks done, out of 637ish, and don’t expect to complete them all. Maaaaaybe by the year 2040 or so, when I’m over 60 years old.

For those who like the idea of keeping some peaks obscure, I agree that unnamed peaks probably see far less traffic in general, but there will still be lots of them!

I am still unsure of how many 13’er finishers there are, but only a few dozen, which leaves lots of peaks unnamed.

Also, I expect some of them will be difficult to make contact with, and some will choose not to name a peak. These people generally seem quite modest, despite their experience, which is an admirable trait. I understand that they didn’t complete this list in search of external validation, but let’s validate them anyway!

[CheapCigarMan]

Giving unnamed peaks names is not just fun, it has a functional purpose.

Every so often measurement technology is improved and peaks are re re-measured. When an unnamed peak gets a new elevation its name also changes.

This makes existing trip reports, web pages and gps files confusing and difficult to manage. The reports and web page names on my site were updated with the new Lidar names (thanks Joseph!) but it was tedious. The file names and waypoints in my GPS files were not updated. Having real names makes sense.

I am a fan of locals giving unofficial names to mountain features (peaks, towers, ridges, couloirs, etc.) After all, many of the current unofficial names were assigned by the OGs who were pioneering in hob nailed boots back in day. Kinda tough to manage though. And while we are at it lets get some fun non-PC names vs. the same ol' stale stuff...( ie. East East Red), Dicker's Peck is currently the best named peak in the state and not even on purpose.

Hiker Guy:
Two obese golfers riding in a cart drinking beers, eating dogs and smoking cigars: "If golf is a sport... then we are athletes"

I and others agree with this. But if a peak elevation changes I don't think the UN Name / Number needs to change. Just because the elevation changed doesn't mean the name / number needs to change.

[josephnephi]

I am still unsure of how many 13’er finishers there are, but only a few dozen, which leaves lots of peaks unnamed.

Currently there are 58 known finishers. Very likely 59 or 60 before the year ends (Go Garrett and Steve!). There are also currently 110 unnamed ranked 13ers.

Personally, I have become more partial to the opinion that a few peaks should be unofficially named by guidebook authors over time. It's a more organic method that a mass naming campaign.

[Veory]

I am still unsure of how many 13’er finishers there are, but only a few dozen, which leaves lots of peaks unnamed.

Currently there are 58 known finishers. Very likely 59 or 60 before the year ends (Go Garrett and Steve!). There are also currently 110 unnamed ranked 13ers.

Personally, I have become more partial to the opinion that a few peaks should be unofficially named by guidebook authors over time. It's a more organic method that a mass naming campaign.

We can just try to come up with names we think might be offesnive in the future so we leave our legacy for a time and climbers of the age to come will get to pick a new name anyways.

I think I may have been the one to suggest 13er finishers getting naming rights a while back. I did not mean they got the peak named after themselves, but rather they get to pick an unofficial name to be used among colorado climbers. I do think we can do better than Ben's Mt. Weiner Balls though. Maybe, since there's two of them, may I suggest Left Nut and Right Nut, Ben?

[gore galore]

Mass naming campaigns of the thirteeners suggested by this thread and an earlier one are doomed to failure. Consider the attempt by a member awhile back to name some 100 Colorado peaks that was met with abject failure when under review by the Colorado Naming Advisory Board before any U.S. Board On Geographic Names involvement. These mass naming efforts seem to come from those who have no idea of the criteria or the channel to properly place a name on a federal map other than to honor some athletes or to simplify spreadsheet requirements.
The accompanying idea that only thirteener finishers would get naming rights to the unnamed thirteeners is also absurd when you realize that I am the only one on this site that has successfully through the BGN named a thirteener, Atlantic Peak, 13,841 in 2001. And I have never had the desire, determination, and dedication to drive around the state climbing these peaks. But I did have that desire, determination, and dedication to place an historical name on a federal map in place of a proposed alternative name. And that name will last longer than any unnofficial name proposed by a thirteener finisher.
Those that want to name a peak that lasts should heed Amy's advice. It takes a lot of effort and time. And good fortune to her name proposal of Gunnison Sentinel Peak. I hope to see that name in the GNIS and on federal maps in the future.

[Eli Boardman]

Mass naming campaigns of the thirteeners suggested by this thread and an earlier one are doomed to failure. Consider the attempt by a member awhile back to name some 100 Colorado peaks that was met with abject failure when under review by the Colorado Naming Advisory Board before any U.S. Board On Geographic Names involvement. These mass naming efforts seem to come from those who have no idea of the criteria or the channel to properly place a name on a federal map other than to honor some athletes or to simplify spreadsheet requirements.
The accompanying idea that only thirteener finishers would get naming rights to the unnamed thirteeners is also absurd when you realize that I am the only one on this site that has successfully through the BGN named a thirteener, Atlantic Peak, 13,841 in 2001. And I have never had the desire, determination, and dedication to drive around the state climbing these peaks. But I did have that desire, determination, and dedication to place an historical name on a federal map in place of a proposed alternative name. And that name will last longer than any unnofficial name proposed by a thirteener finisher.
Those that want to name a peak that lasts should heed Amy's advice. It takes a lot of effort and time. And good fortune to her name proposal of Gunnison Sentinel Peak. I hope to see that name in the GNIS and on federal maps in the future.

The official process doesn't work for wilderness areas anyway, which is where most of the best peaks are. Unofficial names can be quite enduring--there are many unofficial names promulgated by climbers and published in guidebooks that have lasted the better part of a century and aren't going to change anytime soon. There's no guarantee the USA (and hence the BGN) will last longer than the unofficial names in my old Bonney guide...(and guess who named Bonney Pass?)

[Veory]

I don't think any of these mass naming events are suggesting official names, I just want to see some new quotes on LoJ

[LifeIsGood]

Mass naming campaigns of the thirteeners suggested by this thread and an earlier one are doomed to failure.

I do agree that this idea is probably doomed to failure. For one thing, the 13’er Finishers themselves are probably all too modest to push for this.

But consider the likely alternative: these peaks will probably be named by someone, somehow, at some point. People have already commented on their dislike for the names Soso Peak, etc.

Should we just wait for D’Arcy Straub (DArcyS) to keep submitting naming requests, until he finally succeeds? (One of his silliest was ROYGBIV Peak). Wait- that sounds like a persons name, GASP!

Gore Galore, you are well-respected for your detailed documentation of mountaineering history- surely you too believe that names for these peaks will come eventually?

[LifeIsGood]

My checklist is getting rather messy now- the highest unnamed 13’er is apparently called:

UN 13,838/ previously known as UN 13,832/ aka Point A/ aka Redcloud Peak Northeast/ aka Mount Wiener Balls Peak.