Petition to rename Kit Carson

[Wentzl]

I understand why the current name carries bad connotations for many, but I don't think that's a good enough reason to change it!

Kit Carson was a genocidal assshole who marched an entire tribe hundreds of miles to a concentration camp, killing many along the way, nearly destroying a whole culture.
While that may qualify him for America's highest offices these days, I agree wholeheartedly with Susan.

Anyone considering Kit Carson should read "Blood and Thunder". The man was amazing and his accomplishments in life truely the stuff of legend. Read the book.

[Chicago Transplant]

Another issue I don't think anyone has mentioned in the thread yet, but the peak is also in a Wilderness area. From what I understand the USGS typically has been resistant to renaming unnamed points in wilderness, so I would imagine that policy would extend to renaming a peak that is already named.

For example, the two unnamed centennials near Redcloud were petitioned to be named Blaurock and Ervin, but it was denied because they were in a Wilderness Study Area (not even an "official" wilderness), so the name eventually went to two points in the Sawatch that were outside of Wilderness.

Edit- Actually, its not. The Wilderness Boundary takes a jog around that area and manages to clip the ride such that Kit Carson along with Challenger and Columbia points are all outside of it... never mind.

[Jesse Peterson]

I think there is definitely something to be said for honoring the historic names of mountains, especially those given by indigenous tribes, e.g. Denali instead of McKinley, Chomolungma instead of Everest, etc. It would be a cool tribute to the Utes if we renamed Kit Carson whatever they called it, in light of the fact that Kit Carson represents, for many, a dismal era of ethnic cleansing and genocide in the American west. I can understand why the residents of Crestone would want to re-name it to reflect what they have historically called it. After all, the mountain's presence is pretty powerful in the town of Crestone. But come on.. Mount Crestone?

My vote goes to "Haystack Baldy"

[tmathews]

I think there is definitely something to be said for honoring the historic names of mountains, especially those given by indigenous tribes, e.g. Denali instead of McKinley, Chomolungma instead of Everest, etc.

Sisnaajini would get my vote if Blanca was ever petitioned to be renamed.

[Fred_Bauder]

I live in Crestone and have submitted counter-petitions to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. It turns out that Kit Carson Peak, according to the Board is unnamed. I have opposed the petition to name it Tranquility Peak and have asked that it be named Kit Carson Peak. I have also opposed renaming Kit Carson Mountain. You may directly comment on these proposals by emailing GNIS Manager gnis_manager@usgs.gov

The original petition was based on prejudice towards Kit Carson who was a genuine American hero.

Fred Bauder

[susanjoypaul]

I live in Crestone and have submitted counter-petitions to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. It turns out that Kit Carson Peak, according to the Board is unnamed. I have opposed the petition to name it Tranquility Peak and have asked that it be named Kit Carson Peak. I have also opposed renaming Kit Carson Mountain. You may directly comment on these proposals by emailing GNIS Manager gnis_manager@usgs.gov

The original petition was based on prejudice towards Kit Carson who was a genuine American hero.

Fred Bauder

Thanks for the info, Fred. It's my understanding, then, that what we know as Kit Carson Peak is actually the highest point of Kit Carson Mountain, the massif comprising Columbia Point (aka Kat Carson), Kit Carson Peak, and Challenger Point, correct?

And that the petition is to rename Kit Carson Mountain to Mount Crestone, and Kit Carson Peak to Tranquility Peak?

[Fred_Bauder]

I live in Crestone and have submitted counter-petitions to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. It turns out that Kit Carson Peak, according to the Board is unnamed. I have opposed the petition to name it Tranquility Peak and have asked that it be named Kit Carson Peak. I have also opposed renaming Kit Carson Mountain. You may directly comment on these proposals by emailing GNIS Manager gnis_manager@usgs.gov

The original petition was based on prejudice towards Kit Carson who was a genuine American hero.

Fred Bauder

Thanks for the info, Fred. It's my understanding, then, that what we know as Kit Carson Peak is actually the highest point of Kit Carson Mountain, the massif comprising Columbia Point (aka Kat Carson), Kit Carson Peak, and Challenger Point, correct?

And that the petition is to rename Kit Carson Mountain to Mount Crestone, and Kit Carson Peak to Tranquility Peak?

Yes, rename Kit Carson Mountain, the massif, Crestone Mountain and name Kit Carson Peak, the summit which officially has no name, Tranquility Peak. That is the first request before the board. The second request, which I submitted, is to continue to call the massif Kit Carson Mountain and to officially name the highest point Kit Carson Peak.

[tommyboy360]

If we rename it, let's keep with the current theme in the area:

Space Mountain
Hubble
Apollo
Cygnus X-1
NASA

[MountainHiker]

If they were to split the difference, and call the massif Mount Crestone, and name the summit Kit Carson Peak, then the climbers could still call the summit Kit Carson, and the people who want to call the mountain Kit Carson would also have their bone. Kit Carson is part of the Crestone group anyway.

But I still agree that Mount Crestone in addition to the Peak & the Needle would add confusion, especially if the summit got named anything but Kit Carson.

[MountainHiker]

If we rename it, let's keep with the current theme in the area:

Space Mountain
Hubble
Apollo
Cygnus X-1
NASA

Apollo 1

[OBC13]

Any votes for Johnny Carson Peak?

According to Roach, before Challenger Peak was officially named, some irreverant souls called this summit "Johnny Carson." Roach also says that the highest point is named Kit Carson Peak. Also, the eastern peaks of the massif go by Kat Karson and Kitty Kat Carson.
If tranquility becomes the theme of this mountain, maybe other renaming will have to take place, like Serenity Point, Peaceful Peak, Calm Couloir and Broadway, 80120.

[Brian Kalet]

It turns out that Kit Carson Peak, according to the Board is unnamed.

According to GNIS, it looks like Kit Carson Mountain is the official name for highest point of the Kit Carson massif.