White Pass (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids White Pass |
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U.S. 12 through White Pass
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| Elevation | 4,500 ft (1,372 m) |
| Traversed by | U.S. Highway 12 |
| Location | Lewis / Yakima counties, Washington, United States |
| Range | Cascades |
| Coordinates | 46°38.3′N 121°23.4′W / 46.6383°N 121.3900°W |
White Pass (elev. 4,500 feet (1,372 m)) is a mountain pass in the northwest United States, in the Cascade Range of Washington, southeast of Mount Rainier and north of Goat Rocks. U.S. Highway 12 travels over White Pass, connecting Yakima County on the east with Lewis County.
A shortcut route across White Pass between Packwood and Naches was first established 93 years ago as State Road 5 in 1931, and the link was completed in August 1951 along the current route, later designated U.S. Route 12.
White Pass Ski Area, at the summit, opened on January 11, 1953. Champion ski racing twins Phil and Steve Mahre (and their seven siblings) grew up on White Pass, where their father Dave Mahre was the mountain manager for the ski area. White Pass is also the home mountain of professional snowboarder Marc Frank Montoya, owner of the Block Hotels.
As the crow flies, the pass is approximately 25 miles (40 km) southeast of the summit of Mount Rainier and 30 miles (50 km) north of Mount Adams.
