Ebbetts Pass

Infobox Mountain Pass
Name = Ebbetts Pass
Photo =
Caption =
Elevation = 8,730 ft. / 2,661 m
Location = California, USA
Range = Sierra Nevada
Coordinates = coord|38|32|38|N|119|48|43|W|type:pass
Topographic

Traversed by = State Route 4

Ebbetts Pass, named after "Major" John Ebbetts, (el. 8,730 ft./2,661 m.) is a high mountain pass through the Sierra Nevada range in Alpine County, California. Ebbetts is the eastern of two passes in the area traversed by State Route 4. The western pass is the Pacific Grade Summit (el 2,454 m / 8,050 ft). The pass is registered as California Historical Landmark #318. [cite web | url=http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=21389 | title=Alpine| work=California Historical Landmarks | publisher=Office of Historic Preservation | accessdate=2006-03-31] The Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650 mile (4,240 km) long National Scenic Trail crosses State Route 4 at Ebbetts Pass.

Ebbetts Pass was used by the Miwok and Washoe Indians in the area to cross the mountains,cite web | url=http://www.scenic4.org/features/general/history.asp | title=Ebbetts Pass History | publisher=Ebbetts Pass National Scenic Byway | accessdate=2007-11-26] and it was most likely the route taken by Jedediah Smith in late spring of 1827 when leaving California at the urging of Mexican officials, as well as by John Bidwell on his emigration to California.cite news | last=Hughey | first=Richard | url=http://web.archive.org/web/20050205181055/http://www.mtdemocrat.com/columist/hughey26.shtml | title=Ebbetts finds pass to Angels Camp | date=1999-02-26 | work=Mountain Democrat | accessdate=2005-09-22]

John Ebbetts traversed the pass in April 1851 with a large train of mules. He hoped it would make a suitable route for the transcontinental railroad, as he noted little snow at the time. However, this was likely an anomaly, as the current highway is generally closed from November through May due to snow accumulation. [cite web | url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/roadinfo/clsdates.htm | title=Winter Pass Closures | publisher=California Dept. of Transportation | accessdate=2007-11-04] He later surveyed near the pass for a possible railroad route, but found it unsuitable. He intended to return to the pass itself to survey it for a road but was killed in the explosion of the steamboat "Secretary" on San Pablo Bay in 1854 before he could do so. While the pass was referred to by his name earlier, it was not until 1893, when the U.S. Geological Survey surveyed the Markleeville quadrangle, that the pass was officially named after him. [cite book | title=California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names | first=Erwin Gustav | last=Gudde | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=Kqwt5RlMVBoC&pg=PA118&lpg=PA118&dq=john+ebbetts&source=web&ots=3rvbmhfTsY&sig=hs4vMczOHcQfOo0RcjSS6MspDpU | publisher=University of California Press | year=2004 | id=ISBN 0520242173]

The route was used only occasionally until silver was discovered east of the Sierra, and merchants in Murphys had a road constructed to Markleeville to more easily transport supplies over the pass to the miners. This became a toll road in 1862. From Markleeville, travel further eastward was taken along established routes.

It was not until the early 1950s that the road over Monitor Pass to U.S. Route 395 was completed, connecting the eastern terminus of State Route 4 to U.S. Route 395 via State Route 89 near the community of Topaz. [cite web | url=http://www.cahighways.org/089-096.html#089 | title=State Route 89 | publisher=California Highways | accessdate=2007-11-04]

Today, Ebbetts Pass is one of the least traveled passes in the Sierra Nevada. An extensive section of highway over the pass is less than two lanes with no dividing line. It has very steep sections with hairpin corners. [http://www.pbase.com/lookoutranch/image/34425810.jpg] It is rarely used by commercial traffic and is not recommended for vehicles towing long trailers.

References

External links

* [http://www.uwsp.edu/geo/projects/geoweb/participants/dutch/VTrips/EbbetsPass.HTM Photos of Ebbetts Pass]
* [http://www.vimeo.com/1759214 Video of Ebbetts Pass]