150th anniversary: The first to summit Mt. Whitney and the fight over its name

150 years ago this month, the first successful summit of Mt. Whitney, the highest point in the lower 48 states, was reached. Then the fight for a name began.

Mt. Whitney in Inyo County is the highest mountain in the contiguous United States at 14,505 feet. There are more mountains above 14,000 feet in Colorado, but California has the tallest. It was named after the chief of the California Geological Survey, Josiah Whitney, in 1864.

A member of the survey team, Clarence King, attempted to climb Whitney twice during their trip but was not successful. He returned in 1871 and claimed to have successfully summited, and everyone else believed that for some time. But in reality he had accidentally climbed what today is known as Mt. Langley.

When the error was discovered two years later, King returned to California to try again. He did eventually summit Whitney but made the fourth ascent.

The first ascent was made by three local fishermen, Charley Begole, Johnny Lucas and Al Johnson. These three friends reached the summit at noon on Aug. 18, 1873.

Fowl play

According to the Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce, residents of the Owens Valley wanted to name the mountain “Fisherman’s Peak” to pay homage to the first summiters. When this name was challenged, they proposed the name “Dome of Inyo.” Over the next two years, the local newspaper published many articles arguing this issue. Finally a bill that would make “Fisherman’s Peak” the official name was introduced in the state Legislature. A strange twist of fate bought the bill before the Senate on April Fools’ Day, 1881, where they frivolously amended it to read “Fowler’s Peak.” The governor ended the silliness by vetoing the bill, and so today the original name stands: Mt. Whitney.

The Shoshone tribe’s name for Mt. Whitney is Tumanguya that means “old man” or “guardian spirit.”

John Muir made his first ascent of Whitney on Oct. 21, 1873. Muir was the first person to climb Whitney from the east via what is today known as the Mountaineers Route. He had attempted to summit via the southwest, as those before him, but had retreated to Independence after a cold night out, returning to summit by this new route.

California has 19 peaks over 14,000 feet; Colorado has more than 50.

If you’re interested in learning more about climbing Mt. Whitney there’s an excellent rundown here.

Permit and rules information can be found on the Forest Service website here.

Sources: U.S. Geological Survey, The Associated Press, The William McKinley Presidential Library & Museum, National Archives, National Park Service, Sierra Club, Lone Pine Chamber of Commerce, SeeCalifornia.com