Denali or McKinley?

 

 

"In Alaska, when you hear 'The Mountain is out!', you know it will be a good day!"

With all the important issues facing the country right now, it is good to know that Congress is going to face it's toughest decision this year.  That is right - once again, Congress will have to decide on what "The Mountain" is going to be called.

Many of us "flatlanders" are unaware of this issue. Trust me, in Alaska, it is a huge issue. Hey - it is only a mountain, right? Not really. It is one of, if not THE, most impressive mountains in the world. How impressive you might ask? The base sits at an elevation of 1,000 feet. The peak is slightly over 20,000 feet. That is a 19,000 foot incline. Mt. Everest on the other hand, sits on a elevation of 14,000 feet and rises to 29,000 feet. That is a 15,000 foot incline. McKinley is so big, if it sat on the North Shore of Minnesota, you could see it from the Twin Cities.

The native Indian people in Alaska named the mountain many, many years ago. They called it Denali, which means "the high one". However, the newest inhabitants to Alaska (us) decided to let politics into the equation. My history might be a bit rough on this, so bear with me.

Just prior to the McKinley Administration, it was decided to back our dollars with a precious metal. It was a toss up between gold and silver. A gold prospector in Alaska renamed Mt. Denali to Mt. McKinley in honor of presidential candidate McKinley. McKinley, who had affection for this huge and wild land, made gold the standard after becoming President. In 1917, when the National Parks Act was signed into law by President Wilson, McKinley became the official (and legal) name for "The Mountain" and park it sits on.

To all this crapola which goes on in Washington, the Alaskans say "Balderdash"! People in Alaska want the mountain to retain it's original name. However to do so, will take an act of Congress. No big deal for the locals - they will still call it Denali. Even though the park has since been renamed Denali, it did not appease the locals.

So, it will come up once again in Congress. All this hub bub for the gold standard which lasted until all of 1933. The naming debate goes on today. The locals could care less what the outcome is. To them, their towering majesty is known only by Denali or "The Mountain".

"The Mountain" itself cares not about the names that man gives it. It simply stands, and on good days, will show itself in all it's wonder and splendor. For that we are all of us, grateful. Thousands of years after we are no longer here, "The Mountain" will be. The name may change, but "The Mountain" will not. And of that, we are sure.