Westgard Pass
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Westgard Pass | |
|---|---|
 A.L. Westgard's "Pathfinder" Automobile helped through sandy wash onto mesa, 7 miles northwest of Yuma, Calif. by A. L. Westgard, November 20, 1911 |
|
| Elevation | 7,313 ft. / 2,229 m. |
| Location | California,  United States |
| Range | White Mountains/Inyo Mountains |
| Traversed by | California State Route 168 |
Westgard Pass (el. 7,313 ft. / 2,229 m.) is a narrow gap between the White and Inyo mountain ranges in the Basin and Range Province of California. Westgard Pass lies entirely within the Inyo National Forest.
California Highway 168 crosses the pass, connecting the Owens Valley to Deep Springs Valley. Highway 168 is the only (paved) east-west route across the Inyo-White Mountains. The highway is known for its pristine scenery and grand vistas.
The pass was named after A.L. Westgard, the Vice President and Director of Transcontinental Highways within the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. 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 Federal Highway system and 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".
