Posted on 08/09/2011 2:34:28 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
Thousands of Coloradans have signed a petition to honor the late "Rocky Mountain High" singer John Denver by naming a peak after him in the central Rockies close to where he penned the iconic 1970s song.
But the plan has hit a snag -- with the US Board on Geographic Names saying federal policy is to avoid adding names to peaks in federal wilderness areas.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
http://climbing.about.com/b/2011/07/13/petition-to-name-colorado-peak-for-john-denver.htm
Petition to Name Colorado Peak for John Denver
An effort is underway right now to have the eastern unnamed sub-peak of 12,965 Mount Sopris in Colorado's Elk Range and in the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area named for legendary Colorado singer, songwriter, and environmentalist John Denver.
J.P. McDaniel, a college professor in Littleton, Colorado, is petitioning the U.S. Board of Geographic Names to attach John Denver's name to the peak as a tribute to not only his music but to the enduring environmental legacy he left in western Colorado after his 1997 death.
McDaniel told the Aspen Times, "I didn't want just any mountain. The beauty and magnificence of Mount Sopris overlooks the Windstar Conservancy. It frames it. John Denver protected that land and donated it for public benefit. Naming the peak would honor his love for nature and his involvement with environmental preservation."
The Windstar Land Conservancy protects over 1,000 acres that Denver bought in 1978 and donated to his Windstar Foundation. Williams Lake on the southeast flank of Mount Sopris is also the place where John Denver got high and wrote his iconic 1972 song Rocky Mountain High, the state song of Colorado, on a camping trip in his 27th year.
McDaniel's effort to have the unnamed sub-peak given the moniker John Denver Peak, with the support of his family and permission from his estate, has been going on for a couple years.
Right now a petition is available for supporters to sign by July 20. After that the petition will be presented to the U.S. Board of Geographic Names for consideration. McDaniel hopes that the petition and name change will be approved by the 14th anniversary of John Denver's death. Denver died in a plane crash off the California coast at age 53 on October 12, 1957.
To sign the petition, go to John Denver's website or the official petition website and add your signature and support.
I did. As a native Coloradoan, I was always proud of the way that John Denver represented our state and wrote about its beauty. I was signee #1959.
John Denver might be gone but the inspiration and beauty of his beloved mountains remains. Attaching his name to that sub-peak will continue to honor John's legacy.
I’m a HUGE John Denver fan, have been since I was a kid, but I’m not sure I can get on board with naming a mountain after him.
They should name an oil well after him too. I remember when he caught grief for having his own underground fuel tanks.
this must be a joke right?
Why don’t they name it Mt. Henry Deutschendorf?
I agree, I loved his music - but c’mon; think of having to replace all the maps, all the documentation and costs of naming a Mountain Peak for a singer.
Then, what about Lady Gaga? Certainly Dolly Parton deserves 2 peaks.
Where does it end?
A mountain doesn’t seem like a big enough honor. I think they should name the capital of Colorado after him.
Hey, Cities can be named after people, Bridges can be named after people, even Mountains can be named after men like George Everest. Heck, COUNTRIES can be named after people ( e.g. Philippines was named after King Philip of Spain ).
Why not this particular Peak? What possible harm can there be?
Well they’re sure not going to name a flight school after him.
Deutschendorf was a major Dem supporter (especially Carter) and critic of Reagan.
A typical liberal hypocrite.
RE: I think they should name the capital of Colorado after him.
Actually the chicken came before the egg... first came Denver, then came John Denver.
That mountain has two peaks. They are trying to name one of the peaks after him. The name of the mountain will remain the same.
they named a city after him...isn’t that enough? :o)
federal policy is to avoid adding names to peaks in federal wilderness areas.
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Oh dear
A tree will die
The citizens of Colorado can call it whatever they want. Why are they asking. A name on a government map is pointless. If they all call it by a name, it has a name. If they get a map name change, but no one uses it, they have a pointless endeavor.
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