In Cormac McCarthy's "The Crossing," the notion of naming geographical features highlights the struggle of human perception. Names of mountains and deserts serve as guides for navigation; however, they are ultimately artificial constructs. The author suggests that these labels are created in response to a feeling of disorientation and loss. By naming places, we attempt to provide meaning and direction, but they don't inherently solve the problem of being lost in the world or within ourselves.

The text reflects on the deeper existential crisis of losing one's sense of direction, which cannot be remedied by mere coordinates. McCarthy proposes that while we may denote locations with names, we are still at risk of losing ourselves, emphasizing that true dislocation arises from within rather than from the environment. Ultimately, even with names and maps, the essence of the world and our place in it cannot be entirely captured, leaving us searching for a path that remains elusive.