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RE: [pct-l] sierra or sierras

Hi all,

So as not to incite a potential flame war, let me first say I don't care
what you call it.  I'm giving my opinion because I consider this an
"interesting" topic.

In some sense neither is correct.  The problem is one of language.  Like
much of California, the Sierra Nevada was given a Spanish name by the
Spanish people who were the first Europeans to visit the area.  In Spanish
the adjective comes
AFTER the noun.  Sierra literally means "saw."  It's a noun that refers to a
sharp saw-toothed range of mountains.  The closest one-word English
translation is "range."  Nevada is the "true" name of the range.  Sierra
Madre is another range
of saw-toothed mountains.  Thus the best English translation of Sierra
Nevada would be "Nevada range."  But no-one calls them the Nevadas, so
what's "right?"  

In my opinion the correct long name in English is the Sierra Nevada
mountains which can be shortened to the Sierra Nevadas.  If you choose to
think they are famous enough to usurp the name "Sierra" from all the other
mountain ranges in the world that share that name, (I do) then you've
shortened "the Sierra Nevadas" to "the Sierra."  No "s"

My dos centavos,
Brian

PS  And if you think this is an issue, consider how many people mispronounce
the Spanish named landmarks on the PCT.  For instance, how many of you think
the J in Mt. San Jacinto is a soft G sound, as in Jack?  It's actually an H
sound, as in San Jose.  And don't even try to pronounce Agua Dulce. ;-) 

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