Bishop - Supes to comment on peak name change

North Palisade Peak, at 14,242 feet in the Sierra west of Big Pine, is one of the most coveted peaks among mountaineers. The Inyo Board of Supervisors will respond today to Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s proposal to rename North Pal “Brower Peak” in honor of one of the Sierra Club’s founding fathers. Photo by Connie Morris

Inyo County’s Board of Supervisors is scheduled to weigh in on the proposed name change of North Palisade Peak and provide Senator Dianne Feinstein with its thoughts on the matter at its meeting today in Independence.
Feinstein is proposing that North Palisades, one of the tallest peaks in California, be renamed in honor of the late David Bower, one of the Sierra Club’s founding fathers and its first executive director.
“I believe that it is important for Inyo County to provide comment on this proposed name change,” said Fourth District Supervisor Jim Bilyeu, who brought the matter to the attention of the board and whose district includes the peak. Bilyeu is opposing the name change, citing its long history as North Palisades and economic impacts the county may sustain, as the mountain is a very popular climbing destination.
“This peak is the third or fourth, depending upon who is reporting, highest peak in California,” he added.
North Palisades is located west of Big Pine and was named by the Brewer Party of the Whitney Survey in 1864.
In addition to being one of the tallest peaks in the region, Bilyeu said the peak “is home of the Palisades Glacier, which is the southernmost glacier in North America,” another notable feature.

“North Palisades is a well-publicized climbing destination that is an important recreational draw for Inyo County,” Bilyeu said, noting that the mountain bears an historic name that “needs to be preserved.”
Bilyeu is afraid that if the name of the popular peak is changed, climbers seeking it out may not be able to find directions, weather conditions or other information they may need to plan a trip via the Internet. That could lead to less visitors climbing west of Big Pine.
Supervisor Bilyeu is not the only person in Inyo County who feels the name change could bring adverse effects to the region.

Concerned local climber Rick Poedtke has organized an online petition protesting the proposed name change that has received wide-spread attention, receiving more than 100 signatures from both Eastern Sierra residents and frequent visitors to the majestic peak in just a few days.
Poedtke said that there are several peaks in the Eastern Sierra that have never been designated with names, and one of those would be a better fit to honor Brower, rather than changing the name of a popular Inyo County attraction. He also mentioned that designating a new section of wilderness that is included in the Wild Heritage Act would also be a fitting memorial to Brower.
Others believe Feinstein is traveling through the wrong channels, and should appeal to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which is made up of a group of civil servants from federal agencies. That board was formed to handle the naming, or renaming, of natural landscape features.
But advocates for the name change see it as an opportunity to honor the late Brower, who has a long history with the Sierra Club and environmental and conservation work.
“Naming the North Palisade Peak after David Brower is a fitting tribute to a man who loved the High Sierra and all of America’s Wilderness,” said Senator Barbara Boxer.
“David Brower was a true champion for the environment,” said Feinstein, adding that renaming the peak “will be a lasting reminder of (his) leadership and lasting contributions to the environmental community.”
Brower became the first executive director of the Sierra Club in 1952 and held that post for nearly two decades, dramatically increasing the Club’s membership.
As head of the Sierra Club, Brower spearheaded campaigns to keep giant dams out of Dinosaur National Monument and the Grand Canyon. His advocacy led to the establishment of nine national parks and seashores, including Kings Canyon National Park, Redwoods National Park, and Point Reyes National Seashore. He played an instrumental role in passing the Wilderness Act of 1964.
While Brower was at the helm of the Sierra Club, however, the group lost its tax-exempt status for excessive political lobbying. Eventually, the club, citing financial mismanagement, replaced Brower in 1969.
After leaving the Sierra Club, Brower founded the League of Conservation Voters and Friends of the Earth. He led Friends of the Earth for 10 years before moving on in 1984 and creating Earth Island Institute.
In recognition of his conservation work, Brower was nominated three times for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Bower died in 2000 at 88 years old.
No matter how the board votes, either in favor or opposition of the name change, it is apparent that both sides have received considerable support, and the senate will most likely have the final say.
Whether or not they consider and recognize the possible economic ramifications that the name change could bring in the Sierra remains to be seen.
“Local interests should be protected regarding the proposed name change and its impacts to Inyo County’s fragile economic well being,” Bilyeu said.

(Staff writer Mike Bodine contributed to this report.)