SHARSMITH PEAK status reports

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STATUS REPORTS ON LEGISLATIVELY NAMING SHARSMITH PEAK--most recent appear earliest

September 12, 2014: Status Report for Legislatively Naming Sharsmith Peak--

Newly posted supporting statements appear on this website from National Parks and Conservation Association, Dan Jensen of DNC Resorts at Yosemite (the park's principal concessioner), Shelton Johnson, Penny Otwell, Pat Lankford, Diane Scarritt, Martin Rosen (President Emeritus Trust for Public Lands), Joan Rosen (Volunteer Park Natualist, Anza Borrego California State Park), and Rocky Deal (Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative Tom McClintock of California House of Representatives District 4).

A meeting is being arranged for committee members to meet with Congressman Tom McClintock (see above) for the purpose of exploring the preparation of a bill to legislatively name Sharsmith Peak, to be introduced into the U. S. House of Representatives. Pursuant to the results of that meeting, additional actions are expected to be asked of Sharsmith Peak Committee members and other supporters of this naming.

Committee members presently feel the current developments provide the most likely opportunity to effect this naming that has yet occurred. Stay tuned!

Bill Jones, lead member, Sharsmith Peak Committee

December 14, 2013: Status Report for Legislatively Naming Sharsmith Peak--

Anne & Dr. Roger Hendrickson <anne.hendrickson@gmail.com>; Bill Jones (billj@summitco.us); Bill Wendt (bwendt@sti.net); Bob Barbee (barbee@montanadsl.net); Bryan Harry (harryb001@hawaii.rr.com); David Hubbard (fleetingglimpses@frontier.com); Debra Serene Lakes Plant (debrajplant@gmail.com); Dick Ewart (dick_ewart@yahoo.com); Jack Morehead <jack@jackmorehead.net>; Jim Sano (jdsano@gmail.com); John Lemons <sierran@icloud.com>; Lee Stetson (leestetson@sierratel.com); Len McKenzie (lenmckenzie@yahoo.com); Lyndel Meikle (the_meikle@hotmail.com); Owen Hoffrman (pkrnger@aol.com); Ron Mackie (rmackie@sti.net); Wayne Merry (wcmerry@gmail.com)

This update also appears on the committee website www.sharsmithpeak.org.

Sharsmith Peak Committee:

Have there been any developments since my last e-mailing on getting Sharsmith Peak formally named? I have two things to report, but perhaps I am not up to date on efforts by others. If anyone has anything else that should be shared with the committee I can forward it if you like—or you can (members’ e-mail addresses above).

The first thing is the publication of an article in Yosemite Gazette, of Summer 2013, pages 12-13, by Sharsmith Peak Committee member David Hubbard. This was of a High Sierra Trip hike he took long ago with Carl Sharsmith and Dave’s late father and chief park naturalist Douglass Hubbard (who was a member of the Sharsmith Peak Committee, too). Through Dave’s efforts Bill Jones submitted material through Dave for the Gazette on the proposal to formally name Sharsmith Peak and it was included in the same issue as Dave’s article, in “Letters to the Editor”. Owen Hoffman was consulted in this as well.

The second thing is the article below, which was published in Parkland Watch. This helps bring up to date legislative proposals on Yosemite which among other things would rename Mammoth Peak as Mount Jessie Benton Fremont. (See the appendix at the end of this e-mail for one bill to do this, HR 1192, introduced by Representative McClintock on March 14, 2013.) You may know that Mammoth Peak, looming east of Tuolumne Meadows, is totally within legislated wilderness. I know of no effort to complete this Mammoth Peak renaming through the Board on Geographic Names (BGN), which for formally naming Sharsmith Peak is the avenue our committee attempted and failed. (Our failure was largely due to objections by naming-board members to adding names within legislated wilderness—even though Sharsmith Peak is only partly within legislated wilderness--per naming policies of the boards and federal agencies involved; this issue seems not to be a deterrent in the naming of Mount Jessie Benton Fremont.)

Pursuing a legislative naming of Sharsmith Peak had always been considered by our committee if the BGN approach did not succeed (even knowing the policy of the BGN regarding adding names in wilderness), feeling naming Sharsmith Peak was a case that fit within BGN exceptions to its general rule. Not long after our failure, Congress legislatively named a peak not far from Sharsmith Peak as Mount Andrea Lawrence (also totally within legislated wilderness) and this naming, like that so far of Mount Jessie Benton Fremont, did not go through the BGN. Although the BGN exists at the pleasure of Congress to develop and implement federal naming policy, Congress is apparently not as sensitive to the wilderness naming issue as is BGN, at least in these cases. This legislative naming of Mount Andrea Lawrence in spite of the BGN policy against adding names in wilderness led our committee to start actively pursuing a legislative naming of Sharsmith Peak; members have made several contacts of legislators to this end.

(Committee members earlier considered the appropriateness of renaming Mammoth Peak for Jessie Benton Fremont and did not have opposition even though it was once suggested to be named for Carl Sharmith. [Your writer Jones notes, however, that Mammoth Peak is not within the boundaries of the 1864 Yosemite Grant park that resulted from any efforts Jessie made--if she made them, for such efforts seem to be based on conjecture--and it would seem better if a peak were to be named for her to name one that is within those original boundaries, although Jones does not advocate naming Mammoth Peak for Carl Sharsmith]).

You will note in the article below on Yosemite legislative proposals references to the same legislators our members have been contacting to get Sharsmith Peak formally named. The idea then naturally occurs to suggest to these legislators to include in their legislative proposals the formal naming of Sharsmith Peak. Because of the nature of our legislative process, this type of legislation is almost always left to the legislators whose geographic district is involved. And legislators in involved districts are responsive primarily to their constituents and especially their voters. Thus, if attaching the formal naming of Sharsmith Peak to Yosemite legislation is to happen it almost certainly must be accomplished by supporters from California, especially Sharsmith Peak Committee members. Supporters and Committee members from other states would then be encouraged to contact involved California legislators and those on House and Senate natural resources committees plus their own legislators to encourage passage of a bill. The alternative is to continue pursuing a separate bill to formally name Sharsmith Peak.

Should we advocate attaching the naming of Sharsmith Peak to the proposed Yosemite legislation? If so, how?

[There appear to be other reports on proposed Yosemite legislation, including a hearing on same by the House of Representatives this past July. If a committee member has insights on these, perhaps it should be shared with other members.]

[Currently our committee does not have a designee to spearhead activities with California legislators. The press of other involvements and a health issue has impacted efforts, although Len McKenzie, John Lemons, Jim Sano, and Ron Mackie have made initial progress with legislators, park and forest administrators, and business persons. Should we have such a designee and who is in a position to take on the role?]

Bill Jones

December 13, 2013: Copy of article published in Parkland Watch:

Fresno (CA) Bee

Friday, December 13, 2013
Lawmakers sow Yosemite seeds, but harvest so far unclear
By Michael Doyle
McClatchy Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON — Congress will revisit unfinished business with Yosemite National Park next year.

One pending bill would expand Yosemite's boundaries. Another would rename a local mountain peak. A third would speed salvage logging in the park's vicinity. Some bills may have promise, but none yet shows unstoppable momentum.

"I think there's a possibility that these measures could become part of a larger package," Rep. Jim Costa, D-Fresno, said Friday. "There's a deal there to work out."

Certainly, long odds confound any legislation in today's divided Congress.

Through Nov. 30, House members introduced 4,222 bills and resolutions since the 113th Congress began on Jan. 3. In the Senate, 2,144 bills and resolutions were introduced. So far, only 55 bills have become law; some in packages that included multiple bills.

The 113th Congress resumes in January during an election year that further complicates legislating. Some measures may be teed up for quick action, such as a long-stalled farm bill. Other measures may be consigned to debate fodder, such as the Senate's 1,198-page immigration bill passed in June.

The Yosemite-related bills, while relatively modest, face multiple obstacles.

One measure, introduced in September by Rep. Tom McClintock, R-Granite Bay, is called the Yosemite Rim Fire Emergency Salvage Act. The legislation, a response to the devastating Yosemite-area fire of last summer, would exempt salvage logging on the nearby Stanislaus National Forest from the usual environmental studies, public review or judicial oversight.

Citing what he called the "gravest reservations," McClintock removed from his original bill a provision that would affect timber found within Yosemite's boundaries.

"If any good can come of this tragedy, it would be the timely salvage of fire-killed timber that could provide employment to local mills and desperately needed economic activity to mountain communities," McClintock said when he introduced the bill.

Getting the measure to President Barack Obama's desk, though, will test all of the legislative skills McClintock has learned during his several decades of holding public office. It narrowly passed the House Natural Resources Committee, by a 16-15 vote. The Republican-controlled House is likely to be sympathetic, but the Democratic-controlled Senate will have to be persuaded.

"It's not clear, based on our discussions with the Forest Service and others, that there is any need for this bill," said Zachary Coile, spokesman for Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif.

Mariposa County Supervisor Kevin Cann, a former Yosemite park official, said Friday that he "can't see Congress passing the McClintock logging bill, which throws most regulation out the window, especially when the Forest Service seems to have the tools to eventually meet most of the need."

McClintock's district includes Yosemite. His office did not respond to multiple queries Friday. Costa, though, said "we're in negotiations" over possible timber salvage compromises and stressed that "staffs are meeting and talking."

A lower-profile bill introduced by McClintock last March would rename Mammoth Peak, a 12,117-foot summit within Yosemite's boundaries, as Mount Jessie Benton Fremont. Fremont, a writer and political activist, came from a prominent Missouri family and was married to Sen. John C. Fremont, a 19th century explorer. She was an early proponent of establishing a Yosemite park.

So far, no other House member has co-sponsored McClintock's peak re-naming bill. Finding co-sponsors, moreover, is not even half the battle.

Sixteen House members -- all Democrats -- have co-sponsored Costa's bill to expand Yosemite's boundaries by 1,575 acres in Mariposa County. Some of the property is owned by the non-profit Pacific Forest Trust and some is owned by a partnership of doctors who originally planned to build a subdivision. A Senate version of the park expansion bill has been introduced by Boxer and Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

"We have continued to build support and momentum, and state Republicans are strongly supporting the bill," Laurie Wayburn, president of the Pacific Forest Trust, said Friday, adding that "getting the introduction in both chambers this year was major progress."

A Senate subcommittee held a hearing on the bill in July, something that House Republicans haven't yet convened.

Some Yosemite-related ideas simply drop from sight.

In 2012, for instance, Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Turlock, authored legislation to add 18 acres in Mariposa County near the intersections of Highways 49 and 140 for the purposes of a Yosemite visitors center. The bill received a hearing and attracted three co-sponsors, but then went nowhere and has not been reintroduced.

The bill that's technically the farthest along, authored by Rep. Jackie Speier, D-San Mateo, would order the National Park Service to study ways to honor the Buffalo Soldiers troop of African American troopers who helped patrol Yosemite in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The House passed the bill in June, though that's no guarantee of final approval. A similar bill passed the House in both 2010 and 2012, but then stalled.

May 22, 2013: Status Report for Legislatively Naming Sharsmith Peak

Sharsmith Peak Committee:

My call went out a few days ago to committee members for input on activities to further the legislative naming of Sharsmith Peak. The idea was to prepare this status report so all would be informed of actions taken in case they needed to coordinate their own.

One response came back, from Owen Hoffman. He is awaiting action by our California members, presently headed by Len McKenzie, before initiating his own legislative contacts in order to concentrate his effect.

I understand well how other obligations reduce our time for this naming effort, yet it is also true that we may be missing opportunities. It would be useful to know what our California members are planning and how their personal schedules might allow them—or not allow them—to accomplish this naming. It may be a reorganization is needed of that California group. If so, let me invite them to do that on their own. Or give me ideas so I can assist if needed. I am hopeful all understand that the legislative naming of Sharsmith Peak is virtually impossible without effective input of residents of the state where the feature is located. This is the way our political system works and has been confirmed by the office of my Colorado senator.

For your reference, here are our members with their states shown:

Sharsmith Peak Committee: Bill Jones (CO) (lead member), Len McKenzie (lead member for CA), Jack Morehead (CA), Dr. John Lemons (CA/AK), Lee Stetson (CA), Jim Sano (CA), Ron Mackie (CA), Anne & Dr. Roger Hendrickson (CA), Debra Plant (CA), Bill Wendt (CA), Dick Ewart (CA), Bob Barbee (MT), Lyndel Meikle (MT), Bryan Harry (HI), Wayne Merry (BC), Dr. Owen Hoffman (TN), David Hubbard (OR).

Bill Jones

P.S: I’m having to break my “To” list into pieces because my hosting service otherwise stops sending apparently thinking I’m spamming. Now if they could just stop those real spammers who jam up my inbox!

April 19, 2013: Status Report for Legislatively Naming Sharsmith Peak

As noted elsewhere, status reports on the legislative naming of Sharsmith Peak are planned about monthly. Thus, activities regarding naming Sharsmith Peak that have surfaced in the last month or so include these:

As reported in the last status report, Bill Jones and Owen Hoffman, through Colorado Senator Andy Kerr, made contact with the office of U.S. Senator Mark Udall of Colorado. Advice then received from Dan Fenn of Senator Udall’s staff stressed the importance in seeking legislation related to a region is to have individuals in such a region contact their legislators who represent those regions. Consistent with this advice, but not entirely as a result of it, Len McKenzie agreed to take on the task of leading the coordination of Name4Carl/Sharsmith Peak committee members who live in California. Committee members who live in California, and other Californians as well, have McKenzie as their contact in coordinating input if they wish but may also act on their own. Keeping Len and Bill informed, however, will allow us to send out information to others via these status reports.

A letter was received from U. S. Senator Michael Bennett of Colorado acknowledging receipt of Bill Jones’ letter to him on the Sharsmith Peak naming. None of the other legislators Bill contacted by mail have responded (except Udall).

Debra Plant is making contact with a friend of hers who is connecting her with Fiona Wilson, said to be “one of Carl’s nearest and dearest friends”, and others with an interest in the naming. This friend also has contacts with U.S. Senator Tom Udall of New Mexcio and U. S. Senator Rob Portman of Ohio.

John Lemons, as a California resident, has several letters prepared to forward to legislators and is awaiting word from Len McKenzie as to when he should do so.

Owen Hoffman plans on contacting legislators as well. He also observes again that U.S. Representative McClintock has become active in matters Yosemite, he now representing the district in which the park lies. McClintock has been in the news about the park and is questioning a number of potential directions the park is considering taking regarding visitor use developments and meeting the needs of the Merced Scenic and Wild River Watershed judicial requirements. Owen has had a relative working in McClintock’s office until recently and observes that McClintock’s views—although unknown for naming Sharsmith Peak--could be a challenge for our Sharsmith Peak effort.

Renaming Mammoth Peak for Jessie Benton Fremont: A possibility has risen in which Representative McClintock’s activities may include promotion of replacing the name Mammoth Peak (wholly within the Yosemite Wilderness) with one for Jessie Benton Fremont; another active idea is to rename Yosemite’s South Entrance for her. Jessie was considered by Hans Huth (Nature and the American and Yosemite: the story of an idea were his publications—the latter reprinted I think from Sierra Club Bulletin and the former published by University of California Press) as a potential contributor at least to conversations of important folks including Frederick Law Olmsted regarding the establishment of the Yosemite Grant of 1864. Jessie’s role is now recently alluded to by Craig McDonald, an historical author for the magazine Sierra Heritage (see April 2012, page 51 and October 2012, page 6) and he also has a book out on Jessie, Yosemite’s Unsung Hero (the latter is said to be available for $25 to Anderson Art Gallery, PO Box 17110, Sunset Beach, CA 90742). Because there was the idea to rename Mammoth Peak for Carl Sharsmith, this development on naming it for Jessie is of interest. The Name4Carl Committee had considered the history of naming a peak for Carl and decided to stick with the then-current proposal of naming so-called peak 12,002 for Carl because it was the most recent of the naming proposals, because that peak had no prior name, because that peak was not within wilderness but at its edge, and because of the administrative purpose served by naming it should there be another emergency action on the peak as was in the Donnie Priest rescue following a winter-time airplane crash that killed Donnie’s parents and caused him to await rescue for 5 days thus requiring amputations. Your Name4Carl/Sharsmith Peak Committee lead member Bill Jones believes committee members should consider the appropriateness of renaming Mammoth Peak for Jessie and whether the committee should have a program to have Mammoth Peak named for Carl Sharsmith instead or whether Mammoth Peak should keep its present name. Considerations might include the fact that Mammoth Peak is not within any area that was set aside by the Yosemite Grant of 1864 and was not in an area added to the park until 1890, Mammoth Peak is wholly within Yosemite Wilderness (although renaming a peak in wilderness may not conflict with wilderness naming policy as opposed to a new naming; to be researched), and Mammoth Peak is a well-established name already. It might also be considered whether—if a name is to be added for Jessie--that it should be within the original Yosemite Grant she allegedly helped establish. Renaming the South Entrance for her might fit the latter criterion as the grant included the Mariposa Grove of Big Trees, although it would need to be determined whether the south entrance would have been within that separate part of the grant. It should also be considered just how strong the case is to associate Jessie with the founding of the Yosemite Grant. Your lead Bill Jones has not adequately reviewed historian McDonald’s writings on this subject, but does feel that such a review should be done. A cursory review has not found specific citations to the contributions that Jessie made to the establishment of the Yosemite Grant. It would be nice to find and encourage an independent historian with an interest in these namings to make such a review and report on the certainty of MacDonald’s conclusions (this is “peer review” as scientists do). Anyone know of one? If so, please suggest this be done by same—or let Bill Jones know to make the contact. Because such a review has not yet been made, I used “allegedly” in describing Jessie’s contributions. This is because while at Yosemite working for Doug Hubbard, he, too, wanted to know more of the particulars that led up to the Yosemite Grant. Doug contacted Hans Huth to see if Huth could or would do this. Huth reported back, after looking for records on the matter, that there were none that would reveal the process. If I remember correctly, however, it seems to me that Huth felt Jessie was probably much involved. There are of course other books on Jessie and perhaps some of their authors have found sources Huth did not. There is even one by Shirley Sargent.

Alma Ripps is named Chief of the Office of Policy for National Park Service, replacing Chick Fagan, who retired. Fagan had also served as NPS representative to the Board on Geographic Names during most or all of the time that review went on of the proposal by our committee to name Sharsmith Peak. Perhaps Ripps will have a role on the board.

If there are other developments to report or as others surface, please forward them to Bill Jones for inclusion in the next status report. Or Bill will also send out other reports if more pressing. Or you can contact committee members directly using the email addresses in the To list above. Just let Bill know so he can keep all up to date.

Bill Jones

Sharsmith Peak Committee: Bill Jones (CO) (lead member), Len McKenzie (lead member for CA), Jack Morehead (CA), Dr. John Lemons (CA/AK), Lee Stetson (CA), Jim Sano (CA), Ron Mackie (CA), Anne & Dr. Roger Hendrickson (CA), Debra Plant (CA), Bill Wendt (CA), Dick Ewart (CA), Bob Barbee (MT), Lyndel Meikle (MT), Bryan Harry (HI), Wayne Merry (BC), Dr. Owen Hoffman (TN), David Hubbard (OR).

March 15, 2013: Status Report for Legislatively Naming Sharsmith Peak

Sharsmith Peak naming moves to legislative initiative: Early in 2013 a consideration emerged that the Sharsmith Peak naming project should include a legislative initiative to formally establish the name. This was an idea that the Name4Carl Committee had long considered but felt that the naming could be accomplished through the traditional process set by the Board on Geographic Names of the U.S. Geological Survey--especially considering the abundant support expressed to the committee by the several former Yosemite superintendents and National Park Service Directors and Regional Directors, as well as rangers and naturalists from Yosemite and many other parks and states plus authors, legislators, artists, photographers, and private citizens. However, because that traditional process failed, and because a similar peak on the same Yosemite National Park/U.S. Inyo National Forest border as where Sharsmith Peak stands had been recently named for another person and without objection by these agencies, the committee determined to start a legislative initiative. Accordingly, the former Name4Carl Committee has adapted its name to the Sharsmith Peak/Name 4Carl Committee. New members were added to the committee, replacing three. The current members are shown at the bottom.

The committee’s earlier website www.name4carl.org is being retained intact, and a new website www.sharsmithpeak.org has been created to coordinate the legislative naming.

Legislators are contacted: On February 6 letters were sent by Bill Jones of the committee to legislators informing them of this naming opportunity via legislation to be proposed and asking for their guidance and support. These went to

· Senator Mark Udall, Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks (of Bill Jones’s state. See www.sharsmithpeak.org/sharudal.htm for reference and use in drafting letters to this and other legislators.

· Representative Rob Bishop, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Public Lands and Environmental Regulations (the subcommittee of the House of Representatives dealing with national parks). (of Utah). See www.sharsmithpeak.org/sharbish.htm for reference and use in drafting letters to this and other legislators.

· Senator Michael Bennett (of Bill Jones’s state)

· Representative Doug Lamborn of Colorado (of Bill Jones’s state and also of the House Subcommitee on Natural Resources, Public Lands, and Environmental Regulation)

· Representative Jared Polis (of Bill Jones’ state)

· Representative Scott Tipton (of Bill Jones’ state and also of the House Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Public Lands, and Environmental Regulation).

Colorado State Senator Andy Kerr contacted the office of U.S. Senator Mark Udall to bring attention to the letters sent to Senator Udall and the above legislators. (Kerr has a statement supporting the naming of Sharsmith Peak on www.name4arl.org/n4csupp.htm , as do his mother and aunt. Senator Kerr once served as a state representative with former Colorado State Senator Dan Gibbs and Dan was once a member of Senator Udall’s staff and is now a Summit County Commissioner where Bill Jones resides. )

On February 15, Owen Hoffman contacted Dan Fenn of U.S. Senator Mark Udall’s office. Dan had requested a phone conversation with the committee, once our letter to Udall had reached him along with Colorado State Senator Kerr’s introduction. Fenn gave this guidance to the committee, according to Hoffman:

“He supports our effort, but emphasizes that the way to get this thing initiated is for Californians to contact their legislators and have our action introduced as pending legislation through them. Dan said that he can be contacted at Sen. Udall's office at any time to help, once the our proposal is introduced by California legislators….Dan is fully aware that the US BGN policy to not name mountain summits inside or on the edge of official wilderness is not a hard and fast obstacle. There are notable exceptions, and Sharsmith Peak should be one of these exceptions, given the reputation and overall significance of Dr. Sharsmith to Yosemite and his career devotion to education in the natural sciences. Dan is aware of our position that naming a roadside pullout ("overlook") along the Tioga Pass road is not an appropriate alternative to our quest to honor Dr. Sharsmith's legacy.” [These interpretations of Dan’s opinions are not necessarily official positions of Senator Udall.]

In keeping with Dan Fenn’s advice above, Len McKenzie agreed to be the lead in developing support of Californian committee members and others to contact their legislators to name the peak, including identifying a sponsor(s) to introduce legislation for the purpose, presumably one from California. Sharsmith Peak Committee members residing in California are McKenzie, Wendt, Morehead, Lemons, Plant, Hendricksons, Sano, Mackie, Stetson, and Ewart. Other Californians who support or would support the naming should also be identified and encouraged. In this, Bill Jones, committee lead member, agreed to provide a supporting role but not be the lead in organizing the California effort because his residency in Colorado will not have influence with California legislators.

Except for Udall’s office there has been no response from any of the legislators to whom letters were sent in early February.

Yosemite superintendent contacted: Also on February 15 Leonard McKenzie met with Yosemite Superintendent Don Neubacher to inform him of the legislative initiative. The idea that naming a roadside pullout for Dr. Sharsmith was not an alternative acceptable to the committee was discussed and the understanding was that the park would not push that idea as an alternative to naming the peak. It was also understood that the park would not oppose the legislative naming.

Emails sent to supporters: Starting February 28, emails have been sent to over 100 known and potential supporters of formally naming Sharsmith Peak to inform them of the new legislative initiative to accomplish this naming, to invite their participation, and to provide information on how to do so. So far as known, none have taken any action. Email addresses are sought for another 100 or so known and potential supporters in order to send the same email to them. The email sent to these persons is at www.sharsmithpeak.org/sharmail.htm.

Naming a Sharsmith Peak an old idea: The question of whether it is appropriate to name a peak for Carl and which peak to be so named again surfaced. This question was fully considered as the original Name4Carl effort was beginning, and is discussed at www.name4carl.org/n4cjust.htm, www.name4carl.org/n4ccritr.htm, and www.name4carl.org/n4cboard.htm. Neither the original Name4Carl Committee nor the present Sharsmith Peak Committee initiated the effort to name a Sharsmith Peak. That effort has been traced at least to 1976 when Henry Berrey of the Yosemite Association developed the idea with Eileen Berrey, and Bob and Marilyn Fry and then presented it to California Representative Tony Coelho. A continuing interest followed among Dr. Sharsmith’s followers, and evolved into a plan to name a peak identified on earlier topographic maps as Peak 12002. The Name4Carl Committee considered this history including other candidate peaks identified at various times, considered the naming policies of the Board on Geographic Names, queried the then-park superintendent and got an expression of not interfering with the effort, and considered the latter association of Dr. Sharsmith with this peak (as well as his acceptance of that peak to be “his peak”), and agreed to support the movement already begun. Subsequently, more information has come forward that shows the movement to have the former Peak 12002 named for Carl was even more surely established before the Name4Carl Committee was formed. This new information is now presented at www.sharsmith peak.org/sharpost.htm. This history dispels any idea that our committee is acting arbitrarily based solely on the opinions of its members.

Expanded publicity: David Hubbard, new committee member and son of former member Douglass Hubbard, began developing on his website www.undiscovered-yosemite.com a section on Dr. Sharsmith.

John Lemons helped initiate letters from several of his colleagues to legislators in their areas.

Dr. Sharsmith had his 110^th birthday yesterday, March 14, 2013. Several saluted him on the internet (what would he have thought of that!).

Give it a Go! The next important step is to locate a California legislator(s) to sponsor a bill to formally name Sharsmith Peak. In order to maximize impact of individual efforts this needs to happen next and almost immediately. Supporters writing letters or otherwise contacting their legislators will be much more effective if they can reference the legislator(s) who will (or has/have) introduced legislation. Because response from persons emailed to date has been nil, the committee may need to identify persons, especially Californians, who will contact legislators and personally encourage them to do so. Momentum will be necessary for success. Members and supporters from non-California states should also contact their own legislators and those legislators from their states who are members of the Senate and House of Representative national park committees. The committee website provides names of these national park committee members at www.sharsmithpeak.org/sharsubc.htm and a way to find one’s home representatives at www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/.

Status reports are planned to be issued monthly and posted on the website www.sharsmitpeak.org. Send contributions to email@sharsmithpeak.org.

Bill Jones

Appendix

113th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 1192

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

March 14, 2013

Mr. McClintock introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

A BILL

To redesignate Mammoth Peak in Yosemite National Park as Mount Jessie Benton Frémont.

Findings

Congress finds that Jessie Benton Frémont—

(1)

was the daughter of United States Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri, a leading proponent of the concept of Manifest Destiny that advocated for the Nation to expand its borders westward;

(2)

became fluent in French and Spanish, was a gifted writer, and was at ease in any political discussion;

(3)

married John C. Frémont, who was assigned to explore the West;

(4)

transformed John C. Frémont’s descriptions from his treks into prose that was used by pioneers to guide their route West;

(5)

traveled to California in 1849 to join her husband at their Mariposa ranch, where gold had been discovered;

(6)

became involved in John C. Frémont’s 1856 campaign for Presidency, which proposed the abolition of slavery, a notion that Jessie Benton Frémont also supported;

(7)

moved to Bear Valley, California, with her husband John C. Frémont in 1858 and thereafter realized the need to preserve the land that would become Yosemite National Park for future generations;

(8)

entertained men such as Horace Greeley, Thomas Starr King, and United States Senator Edward Baker of Oregon, and urged them to begin a process that ultimately led to the establishment of Yosemite National Park;

(9)

influenced President Abraham Lincoln to sign the Act entitled An Act authorizing a Grant to the State of California of the Yo-Semite Valley and of the Land embracing the Mariposa Big Tree Grove , approved June 30, 1864 (commonly known as the Yosemite Grant), the first instance of land being set aside specifically for its preservation and public use by a national government; and

(10)

set the foundation for the creation of national parks and California State parks through her advocacy for and influence on the Yosemite Grant.

Redesignation of Mammoth Peak as Mount Jessie Benton Frémont

(a)

In General

The peak known as Mammoth Peak in Yosemite National Park (located at NPS coordinates 37.855° N, -119.264° W) shall be redesignated as Mount Jessie Benton Frémont and may be known informally as Mt. Jessie in honor of the contributions of Jessie Benton Frémont to the approval of the Yosemite Grant.

(b)

References

Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, record, or other paper of the United States to the peak described in subsection (a) shall be considered to be a reference to Mount Jessie Benton Frémont.

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