- Westgard Pass
Infobox Mountain Pass
Name = Westgard Pass
Photo = Westgard_Sand.jpg
Caption = 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 , USA
Range = White Mountains/Inyo Mountains
Coordinates = coord|37|18|01|N|118|09|11|W|type:pass
Topographic
Traversed by = State Route 168Westgard 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 ofCalifornia . Westgard Pass lies entirely within theInyo National Forest .State Route 168 crosses the pass, connecting the
Owens Valley toDeep 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.The pass was named after
A.L. Westgard , the Vice President and Director of Transcontinental Highways of theNational Highways 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 theLincoln 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
* [http://www.pashnit.com/roads/cal/Highway168.htm Information and photos of Westgard Pass and Highway 168]
* [http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/westgard.htm Article by A.L. Westgard from the March 1915 Motor Magazine]
* [http://www.lincoln-highway-museum.org/Motor/Motor-Index.html The Lincoln Highway National Museum]
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