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A PROPOSAL by the Sharsmith Peak Committee
TO FORMALLY NAME SHARSMITH PEAK
 

Purpose of website and background of proposal: This website has as its purpose to further establish the name Sharsmith Peak for a summit on the crest of the Sierra Nevada of California, at the joint border of Yosemite National Park and Inyo National Forest. This summit lies some 5 miles north of Tioga Pass. The peak is named for the late Dr. Carl Sharsmith (1903-1994), photo on left, long-time ranger-naturalist of 64 seasons at Yosemite National Park. The peak name recalls the substantial contributions Dr. Sharsmith made to visitor and public outdoor education of the natural world as well as to his principal science of botany, changing the outlook and even the life course of many who had the chance to be with him.

The Sharsmith Peak name is now in informal use. Formally naming Sharsmith Peak for Dr. Sharsmith and the causes he stood for will promote similar dedication in present and future citizens. By so promoting awareness of our Earth habitat, citizens can make effective decisions concerning their planet, a vital step to help assure the future well-being of all people. The naming thus supports the current environmental priorities expressed by the American people as well as by citizens and leaders of other nations.

Formal establishment of the Sharsmith Peak name is proposed to be done via legislation in the U. S. Congress. (A proposal in 2006-7 to establish the name through an administrative process failed in 2011.) A step in the legislative process is to secure sponsorship of a bill by a U.S. congressperson(s),  passage by both houses of Congress, and signing by the president. The formal naming of Sharsmith Peak is supported by many persons who have and have had leadership roles as legislators, national park managers, writers, naturalists, and wilderness advocates, as well as individual park visitors.

Photo from proposed Sharsmith Peak summit,
looking north-- photo by Chris Runner;
 permission for use granted 10/03/07

CONTENTS OF SHARSMITH PEAK WEBSITE
and how to support the formal naming of Sharsmith Peak

• See statements recognizing Dr. Sharsmith's contributions and supporting the naming of Sharsmith Peak. Note that many supporters are not generally in favor of adding names to unnamed features unless compelling reasons exist to do so, yet are in favor of this naming because of its overriding justifications.
• Find a Biography of Dr. Sharsmith from Wikipedia. This biography is independent of the actions of the Name4Carl or the Sharsmith Peak Committees. Additional biography is on the websites www.name4carl.org and www.sharsmithpeak.org.
• Get background on the proposal from the archived website www.name4carl.org. This gives background on the lengthy period in which this naming has been proposed (at least since 1976), summarizes federal naming policies, provides the history of the process to both informally and formally name Sharsmith Peak, and gives another biography of Dr. Sharsmith and a list of the extensive works by and about him, plus photos. The website documents the significant support for formally naming Sharsmith Peak and carries forward the tradition of naming peaks for prominent people and their contributions. Note that the organizations of the Name4Carl Committee and its subsequent Sharsmith Peak Committee occurred decades after the movement to formally name Sharsmith Peak began by individuals.
• Learn how a feature can be named for Dr. Sharsmith. Here is discussed the federal administrative procedure for naming features, a process which failed in this case and led to the creation of the Sharsmith Peak Committee to pursue the naming through legislation.
• Note the recent naming of another Sierra peak Mt. Andrea Lawrence. This peak on the Sierra crest is some 15 miles south of Sharsmith Peak and was named by Act of Congress in January, 2013. Mt. Andrea Lawrence is entirely within legislated wilderness with its western slope in Yosemite National Park and its eastern slope in Inyo National Forest (Sharsmith Peak is in legislated wilderness only on its western slope).
• Find the location of Sharsmith Peak on detailed U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps. Also shown is the Harvey Monroe Hall Research Natural Area.
• Get an email from the Sharsmith Peak Committee suggesting your participation and ask to be on the contact list.
• Make contacts with your congresspersons to support the formal naming of Sharsmith Peak. Organizations may do the same. See preliminary Senate bill proposed to formally name Sharsmith Peak. See a letter to Senator Mark Udall (CO ) of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks and a similar letter to Congressman Rob Bishop (UT) of the House Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation. These letters bring to the attention of these subcommittees the opportunities arising from formally naming Sharsmith Peak and seek the guidance and support of the subcommittees. 
  Directly contact your own U. S. senators and congresspersons about your support. Members of the national parks subcommittees: exits are listed, with states and districts they represent. Copy this link a in a browser for a list of representatives and senators with contact information: Contact Us | Congress.gov | Library of Congress. Check these links for your congresspersons and their addresses. Because you are their constituent, your congresspersons expect to hear from you directly and not through the Sharsmith Peak Committee and thus our committee will not forward your input for you, but will assist you in preparing it if needed.
• Publish your statements supporting formally naming Sharsmith Peak. For our committee to stay abreast of activities, you may optionally email the results of your direct contacts with congresspersons to Sharsmith Peak Committee for posting on www.sharsmithpeak.org. As noted above, however, our committee will not forward these to your congresspersons, for you are their constituent.
• Post articles, publications, legislation supporting formally naming Sharsmith Peak. Send any you notice to Sharsmith Peak Committee for posting.
• Use References and resources:
  • Biography of Dr. Sharsmith
    Dr. Sharsmith's contributions
    index of districts of congresspersons with their addresses
    letter to Senator Mark Udall (CO ) Senate Subcommittee on National Parks
    letter to Representative Rob Bishop (UT) House Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation
    members of House and Senate subcommittees on national parks
    Sharsmith Peak Committee members and their relevant legislators
    letters to legislators. Send your letters for posting as your option
    actions of legislators, legislatures, and agencies
    list of supporters and/or potential supporters
    Statements supporting the naming of Sharsmith Peak--current and prior to 2013
    website www.name4carl.org
• Status Reports

Sharsmith Peak Committee: Dick Ewart (CA), Bryan Harry (HI), Dr. Owen Hoffman (TN), David Hubbard (OR), Bill Jones (CO), Ron Mackie (CA), Len McKenzie (CA), Lyndel Meikle (MT),  Cindy Merry (BC), Debra Plant (CA), Jim Sano (CA), Lee Stetson (CA), Bill Wendt (CA). For biographies of committee members.

Send emails to Sharsmith Peak Committee

Carl Sharsmith on Dana Plateau, mid-1980s--
 when Carl was circa 80 years old with still 14 years of service to go
--by Jim Sano

Some more photos of Sharsmith Peak and its region of the Yosemite High Sierra , courtesy Taylor Stanton:

This www.sharsmithpeak.org site was last updated  May 22, 2024 It is sponsored by the Sharsmith Peak Committee, the outgrowth of the original Name4Carl Committee and the interim name Sharsmith Peak/Name4Carl Committee. All content is copyrighted © Sharsmith Peak Committee 2013. Use of this website's content for its purposes will be granted if requested in advance. Submissions to the website may become public. Learn more at Terms and Conditions.