The history, evolution, and process of naming mountains is discussed in the book on pages 32 and 33. However, the specific origin of official (and unofficial) mountain names is often not documented. The public can submit proposed names for peaks via the U.S. Geological Survey’s U.S. Board on Geographic Names website. But often, and especially before the internet, names that were not officially designated through the Board tended to come and go with time. Now, unofficial peak names are showing up on Google Maps and other websites, giving unofficial names some semblance of approval and permanence.
This page contains historical information, in alphabetical order, on the origins of Idaho peak names. Do you have an article, or another document, about the naming of an Idaho mountain? Share it with us through our update form and we will feature it here!
Fenn Mountain (Selway Crags)
Fenn Mountain is one of the most impressive summits in the Clearwater Mountains and is one the peaks identified as the Selway Crags.
January 13, 1928. I believe this article is from the Idaho Statesman.
Mount Heyburn (Sawtooth Range)
–Idaho Daily Statesman, April 10, 1916
Kinport Peak (Bannock Mountain Range)
The dispute referenced in the caption found below was eventually resolved in Gideon’s favor.
An article from the Idaho State Journal. Date unknown.
Langer Peak (Salmon River Mountains)
Langer Peak and Lake.
This memorial at the Langer Lake Trailhead provides the history behind the Langer name.
Saviers Peak (Smoky Mountains)
This is the register left by Mr. and Mrs. George Saviers who climbed the peak while on their honeymoon in 1947. Later climbers adopter the Saviers name for the peak.
The summit register found in 1987 and left by Mr. and Mrs. George Saviers who climbed the peak on their honeymoon.
Shafer Butte (Boise Mountains)
This excerpt is from an Idaho Statesman Column by Dick d’Easum entitled The Hills of Home. The article shows an interesting side of the peak’s namesake.
