Pine Nut summit name piques interest

An effort to put a proper name to the summit above Double Spring Flat will go to Douglas County commissioners on Thursday.

Commissioners approved naming the summit after the flat in November 2004 at the request of the Nevada Department of Transportation.

However, before the moniker could be affixed, the Nevada State Board of Geographic Names informed the Washoe Tribe, which objected to the change.

Under state law, the naming board is required to tell all Indian tribes with historical ties to an area of any proposals and collect comments.

In November 2005, Beverly Caldera and Lynda Shoshone of the Washo Language Program on behalf of the tribe asked that the summit be named Simee Dimeh, which means twin waters.

The summit is the highest point along Highway 395 through the Pine Nut Mountains at 5,987 feet.

Past alternative names for the summit included Double Springs and Walkers Pass.

County commissioners are being asked to weigh in on which name to chose for the summit, which will then be sent back to the state.