This Colorado climber wants to rename 97 mountain peaks

State of play: Attorney D'Arcy Winston Straub has proposed changing the names of 97 peaks in the state, the Colorado Sun reports.

• The proposed names are often based on themes, such as the seven deadly sins, which he found fitting for subpeaks near the 14er Mount of the Holy Cross.

What he's saying: In an interview with the Sun, Straub — who has climbed all the state's 14,000-foot peaks and more than 500 of the 13ers — said he wants to stop naming geographic features after people.

• In his filings with the federal naming board, he said naming mountains after men "is shortsighted, perilous and captures unsavory aspects of human nature."

The latest: Straub proposed to rename Long's Peak saying, "the name of the peak should reflect this astonishing rock formation as opposed to a historical figure that will have less significance with each passing generation and is associated with a controversial aspect of history."

• Explorer Stephen Long's past could be associated with "conquering and oppression," Straub wrote, instead proposing Beaver Mountain after its shape.

Yes, but: Colorado's Geographic Naming Advisory Board quickly declined to accept the proposal at its Jan. 27 meeting, the Sun reported.

• The Boulder County Commissioners called it not a priority in a 2025 letter to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, which makes the final call.
• The state board also rejected petitions by Staub to rename other peaks.

The bottom line: The U.S. board is reviewing a lengthy list of mountain names, meaning the conversation is likely to continue for years to come.