Anybody know any handy references for how lakes in Yosemite got their names? I'm particularly interested in the history of how Smedberg Lake on the Pacific Crest Trail got its name.

Jim

FYI, the following is the classic reference book on California Place Names and is found in probably every California public library (Jim, I know that you're not currently living in CA; I put that in for those that are):
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0520242173?ie=UTF8&tag=urbanlegendsrefe&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0520242173

I have a personal copy at home, but unfortunately I'm in Phoenix until next weekend. I know that I looked up Smedberg at one time, but can't recall its etymology offhand. Historical note: a lot of the entries concerning the Sierra Nevada and Cascade Ranges originally were compiled by Francis Farquhar and appeared in early editions of the Sierra Club Bulletin.

(I would think that a standard web search would uncover a link which would yield the information. I'll see what I can find if nobody comes up with the answer for you.)



Post Edited (04-11-09 17:56)

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THE YOSEMITE POST
Voice of the Rocky Marmot Empire

Actually, easier done than said (sic):
http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/place_names_of_the_high_sierra/s.html

[For anyone interested, I prefer using Copernic to do my searches; you can download their basic, free websearch program, Copernic Agent, which interrogates several search engines (a metasearch engine), by going to http://www.copernic.com.]



Post Edited (04-12-09 10:50)

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THE YOSEMITE POST
Voice of the Rocky Marmot Empire

Len,

Thank you. You gave me what I needed for Smedberg.

Jim