DRAPER — Lone Peak isn't alone any more.
Salt Lake County has a "new" 9,322-foot-high mountain towering above Draper, now that this summit has received an official name from the United States Geological Survey. Enniss Peak, a prominent pinnacle located directly east of 13200 South, now replaces a previously unnamed summit.
Sometimes nicknamed "Baldy," or "Bald Mountain" by some local residents, the new name honors a prominent pioneer family in Draper, John and Elisabeth Enniss, as well as their descendants. The pioneer Ennisses were one of the community's 20 original families who settled Draper in 1851 and who lived at the base of this mountain.
A new city monument was unveiled Saturday at Draper's Historical Park, honoring the pioneer heritage of the Enniss family and also noting the mountain peak's name.
The peak is part of a long ridge at the top of Cherry Canyon that most hikers to Lone Peak use to access that higher, 11,253-foot summit. However, the Enniss Peak adds a name to a nearly four-mile section of saddle of the Wasatch Mountains that is void of any official names from Lone Peak to well inside Utah County.
A bronze marker will be placed on the top of the peak Aug. 2 that states: "Enniss Peak, named in honor of the Enniss family, pioneers of 1851, who contributed greatly to the city of Draper."
It was Enid Enniss, 61, great-granddaughter of John and Elisabeth Enniss, who undertook a yearlong effort through the many official government channels to get the unnamed peak a title.
After reading an Aug. 2, 2001, Deseret News article, "Majestic Landmarks," on Salt Lake County's mountains, Enniss observed that the prominent peak above her childhood home was listed as "unnamed."
Soon after, she called the USGS to inquire about the process to try and name the mountain.
"I talked to a live person," she said, explaining that was quite a surprise. She completed an online application and numerous e-mails later, plus the approval of seven other groups besides the USGS — Utah State Board on Geographic Names, the U.S. Forest Service, three Indian tribes, Salt Lake County and Draper city — and approval for the name was granted.
"I didn't know it would be so hard," Enniss said.
In the early spring, the approval process seemed to have stalled. Then, in early May, both the Utah Names Board and the USGS granted their approval.
"I think it's great. I'm so excited," she said.
Not many new names are approved by the USGS any more because most geographical features are already named and the naming process can be complicated.
Enniss said money raised for the 8-by-4-foot monument all came from private donations.
John and Elisabeth Enniss joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Herefordshire, England, England and emigrated to Utah. John was a successful farmer, school trustee and led an effort to irrigate Draper. His wife was a selfless community healer.
E-mail: lynn@desnews.com