Westgard Pass

Mountain pass in Inyo County, California, United States

Location in California

Westgard Pass^[1] is a mountain pass on State Route 168 in Inyo County, California in the U.S. state of California. The pass lies at an elevation of 7,323 ft (2,232 m)^[1] and is located in between the White Mountains and Inyo Mountains ranges in the Basin and Range Province of eastern California. Westgard Pass lies entirely within the Inyo National Forest, in northern Inyo County, California.

State Route 168 crosses the pass, connecting the Owens Valley to Deep Springs Valley. Route 168 is the only (paved) east–west route across the Inyo-White Mountains. The highway is known for its pristine scenery and grand vistas.

History

The pass was named after Anton L. Westgard, the Norwegian-born Vice President and Director of Transcontinental Highways of the National Highway Association. Inyo County and the State of California bestowed the honor on Westgard after his successful transcontinental journey by automobile in 1911. Westgard, nicknamed "The Pathfinder" was appointed by Federal Highway Administration Director Logan Page to attempt the trek as research for appropriate locations for the first transcontinental highways. This initial field survey ultimately led to what would eventually become the Lincoln Highway.

Although not the first transcontinental voyage by motorized vehicle, Westgard claimed to be the first to have completed the journey by truck, his being a 37-horsepower "Pioneer Freighter".

External links

Information and photos of Westgard Pass and Highway 168(subscription required)
The world-famous early Cambrian fossils that occur at and near Westgard Pass, California
Article by A.L. Westgard from the March 1915 Motor Magazine