Luther Pass

Infobox Mountain Pass
Name = Luther Pass
Photo =
Caption =
Elevation = 7,740 ft. (2,359 m)
Location = California, USA
Range = Sierra Nevada
Coordinates = coord|38|47|13|N|119|56|45|W|type:pass_region:US-CA
Topographic
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 [ [http://www.cahighways.org/089-096.html California Highways: Routes 89 through 96] .] and lies on the boundary between Alpine County and El Dorado County. [gnis|263076|Luther Pass] 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". [ [http://www.twainquotes.com/IrishBrigade.html Mark Twain's Irish Brigade from "Roughing It"] , Robert Stewart.] 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. [ [http://www.schweich.com/geoCAAlpLutherPass.html Luther Pass, Alpine County, California] , Tom Schweich.]

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. [PDF| [http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist10/media/docs/TCR's/SR 89%20web.pdf State Route 89 Transportation Concept Report] |509 KiB , Caltrans, 2002.]

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