White Pass (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White Pass |
|
|---|---|
U.S. 12 through White Pass. Spiral Butte is visible on the left.
|
|
| Elevation | 4,500 ft (1,372 m) |
| Traversed by | U.S. Highway 12 |
| Location | Lewis / Yakima counties, Washington, U.S. |
| Range | Cascades |
| Coordinates | 46°38.3′N 121°23.4′W / 46.6383°N 121.3900°W |
 White Pass
Location in the United States
White Pass
Location in Washington (state)
|
|
White Pass is a mountain pass in the Cascade Range of Washington state. It sits in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. The pass is southeast of Mount Rainier and north of Goat Rocks.
U.S. Highway 12 travels over White Pass. This road connects Yakima County on the east side with Lewis County on the west. The pass is about 4,500 feet (1,372 m) high. It was named after Charles A. White. He was a surveying engineer who found the pass in 1878. He was working for the Northern Pacific Railroad.
Contents
Exploring White Pass
White Pass is a key route through the Cascade Range. It helps people travel between the eastern and western parts of Washington state. The pass is a natural gap in the mountains. This makes it easier to build roads across.
How the Road Was Built
A shorter route across White Pass was first planned in 1931. It was called State Road 5 back then. The full road link was finished in August 1951. This is the same path that U.S. Highway 12 uses today.
Fun at White Pass Ski Area
The White Pass Ski Area is located right at the summit of the pass. It first opened its slopes on January 11, 1953. Many people enjoy skiing and snowboarding here.
Famous ski racers Phil and Steve Mahre grew up at White Pass. Their father, Dave Mahre, was the mountain manager there. Professional snowboarder Marc Frank Montoya also considers White Pass his home mountain.
Pigtail Peak is a mountain that rises above White Pass. It is also part of the White Pass Ski Area.
Where is White Pass?
White Pass is located in a beautiful mountain area. If you could fly like a bird, the pass is about 25 miles (40 km) southeast of Mount Rainier. It is also about thirty miles (50 km) north of Mount Adams. These are two very large and well-known volcanoes in Washington.
Climate at White Pass
The weather at White Pass changes a lot throughout the year. Winters are cold and snowy, which is great for skiing! Summers are much milder and warmer. The pass gets a lot of precipitation, especially in winter. This usually falls as snow.
