Luther Pass

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Luther Pass
Elevation 7,740 ft. (2,359 m)
Location California, Flag of the United States United States
Range Sierra Nevada
Coordinates 38°47′13″N, 119°56′45″W
Topo map USGS Freel Peak
Traversed by State Route 89

Luther Pass (el. 7,740 ft. / 2,359 m) is a mountain pass in California in the Sierra Nevada, between the Carson River basin and Lake Tahoe. It is traversed by State Route 89[1] and lies on the boundary between Alpine County and El Dorado County.[2] The mountains southwest of Luther Pass form part of the main ridge of the Sierra Nevada, while to the northeast they spur off to form the Carson Range.

The pass is named after Ira M. Luther, one of the "Irish Brigade" described by Mark Twain in Roughing It.[3] In 1854, Luther traversed the pass by covered wagon; he was also involved in later efforts to use the pass as the route for the Central Pacific Railroad.[4]

Nowadays, during the ski season, the pass serves as an important connection between South Lake Tahoe and U.S. Route 50, to the north of the pass, and the Kirkwood ski area to the south. In the summer, it connects those areas via Monitor Pass to U.S. Route 395 and the eastern Sierra.[5]

[edit] References

  1. ^ California Highways: Routes 89 through 96.
  2. ^ USGS GNIS: Luther Pass
  3. ^ Mark Twain's Irish Brigade from Roughing It, Robert Stewart.
  4. ^ Luther Pass, Alpine County, California, Tom Schweich.
  5. ^ 89%20web.pdf State Route 89 Transportation Concept ReportPDF (509 KiB) , Caltrans, 2002.

[edit] External links