‘Bad Medicine Spires’ name proposed for rock formation near Bull Lake
by LibbyMT.com
February 25, 2012
The public is invited to give comment on a proposed new name recommendation for a geographical feature located in the Kootenai National Forest in the Cabinet Mountains near Bull Lake. The formation is above Bad Medicine Campground on Bull Lake, about 20 miles south of Troy. The proposed name is "Bad Medicine Spires."
The feature is described as "a geological formation of gigantic castle-like pinnacles looking like magnificent stalagmites arranged cliff-like along a fault line where Mt Vernon’s eastern quarter split/slipped away to the east, leaving castle-like rock towers arranged in a cliff-like line. From bottom to top some of these "castles" approach 1,000 feet in height. There are about a dozen. The multitude of colors in the weather-cracked rocks which comprise the "castles" is, in early light, breath-taking. Shale screes between pinnacles slope steeply to the bottom of the obvious fault line." The feature is located 2.2 miles SSE of Stanley Mountain, 1 mile E of Mount Vernon.
The new name is being proposed by Rob Neils of Spokane Valley, Washington.
The name Bad Medicine Spires was submitted in response to a previous proposal, which was withdrawn, for Bad Medicine. Originally, a name of "Castle Cliffs" was suggested. That name was later withdrawn after the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and the U.S. Forest Service indicated they could not endorse the proposal. Long-time area residents have stated the feature has long been known locally as Bad Medicine. The name Bad Medicine Spires was then suggested.
The Montana State Names Authority (SNA) is responsible for making official recommendations on behalf of the State of Montana to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) on all name changes or new names the BGN is considering in Montana. The BGN is the agency that determines what names the federal government recognizes for placement on maps produced by federal agencies.
In order to determine whether or not to recommend approval of a name proposal, the SNA sends letters to several state agencies and to the county commissions of the counties affected by the proposal. The SNA depends on the county commissions to solicit public opinion on name changes. The SNA will, however, consider the opinion of any interested party and forward all opinions received, whether they agree or disagree with SNA's recommendation, to the BGN to help it make the final decision.
The Montana State Library is soliciting public opinion on the assignment of the name.
The public may submit comments or opinions on the proposed name to Gerald Daumiller by calling 406-444-5358 or by emailing gdaumiller@mt.gov before March 15, 2012.
More information about this proposal, including links to photographs of the spires, can be found at: Bad Medicine Spires.
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