By Bill Wagner
What’s in a name?Over the decades when it comes to Denali, North
America’s highest mountain, about the only thing everyone seems to agree on is
that its name means "the high one."
Actually it’s "Deenaalee" to the Koyukon,
a Native people of Alaskan Athabaskans.Native Alaskans have been calling the mountain by that name for thousands of years. It’s definitely a “high one” with a summit elevation of 20,310 feet.
Starting in 1896, it was called Mt. McKinley for reasons that defy any logic. Seems some old prospector liked William McKinley who was running for president.
As history buffs know, McKinley served one term but was assassinated in 1901 just as his second term started, making Theodore Roosevelt president.
McKinley never visited the park. Over the years, folks in Ohio stood firm whenever there was talk of renaming the mountain or the park.
The first chance to correct this misnomer came about 20 years later when several prominent folks pushed to have the peak and the land around it set aside as a national park. Many wanted the park to be called Denali, that sentiment was far from
The official designation came on Feb. 26, 1917.
Fast forward to 1980 when the Alaska Lands Act not only tripled the park’s size, but also bowed to pressure and hanged its name to Denali National Park.
Still the mountain kept the former president’s name.
Even before the park was enlarged, starting in 1975, Alaska‘s state legislature asked the United States Board on Geographic Names to officially rename the mountain Denali. Alas, congressmen from McKinley's home state of Ohio blocked the request.
If it worked for the folks in Ohio in 1975, why not do it again. They did. For the past four decades, Alaska’s pols introduced the measure only to have Ohio reps knock it down.
But as has happened over and over during President Obama’s tenure in office, the mountain was renamed by going around Congress. U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, signed a secretarial order that bypassed the legislative branch, granting Alaska's state
Obama made the announcement on Aug. 30, 2015 while visiting Alaska.
We visited the park for the first time a year later — mostly looking for moose up close and personal.
Of course, a view of the historic mountain would have been nice, but we were on the wrong end of the “30 percent rule.” That rule says just 30 percent of the hundreds of thousands who visit the park, actually get to see the mountain.
Not surprisingly, we ended up in the 70 percent who had to picture the majestic peak hidden behind the clouds.
Cars are allowed to drive on the first 15 miles of the park road. After that only National Park Service buses are permitted.
We passed on the bus ride.
The Bull Moose we spotted was a ways off the road. Light was low and rain drops were falling. Not the best for photos.
Later with sun out, a younger male and lady friend were grazing nearer the road, which made for better photos.
