Talk:South Pass

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[edit] Elevation

An anonomous editor left the following summary; I provided the correct elevation: 7,412 ft., not 7550. This can be seen to be inconsistent with the USGS Pacific Springs Quad. [1] That source shows the lowest point to be between the 7520 and 7540 elevation contours. The Rand McNally the Road Atlas Deluxe '03: United States, Canada, & Mexico, ISBN 052884489X, is a published reliable source of the 7550 number. My guess is that 7550 is from the road survey and is likely on the highway sign. Wyoming 28 passes about 500 m southeast of the lowest point. Walter Siegmund (talk) 04:53, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

I found a source for the 7412 number. [2] The USGS Pacific Springs Quad says "Historical Monuments (7412) Summit of the Original South Pass". That elevation is consistent with the contour lines. I found no lower point along the continental divide either south or north of Wyoming 28. I'm inclined to use 7,412 feet in the article since the lowest point is generally considered to be the elevation of a pass, but would welcome other comments since a reliable source exists for 7,550 feet and it is likely on the highway sign. Perhaps it suffices to say, "Wyoming State Highway 28 passes 2.3 miles northwest of the pass at an elevation of 7,550." Walter Siegmund (talk) 05:36, 25 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Lewis and Clark

Lewis and Clark planned to travel by water, as one would have done in the eastern United States at the time. They went up the Missouri in boats and canoes expecting a short portage across the Rocky Mountains and then an easy descent to the Pacific. Of course, it didn't work that way. All of the passes used by L&C in Montana are actually a little lower. The Native Americans showed them the best route which crosses Rogers Pass 5610 and Lolo Pass 5235. But all of these passes have very steep grades and very steep mountainsides w/timber and weren't suitable for wagons. SagredoDiscussione? 08:32, 24 November 2007 (UTC)