PASSES—SOUTHERN LIMIT OF PERPETUAL SNOW. 
153 
The chain retains a great elevation even south of latitude 37°, lofty snow-covered peaks 
being visible from the Tulare plains, and the outline being much broken and serrated. South 
of 36°, however, the altitude decreases, until at the Tejon the highest points are not over 7,500 
feet above the sea ; and the height of the passes, according to the determinations of the Survey, 
range from 4,000 to 5,300 feet. The elevations of the passes in the chain, so far as known, are 
exhibited in the table: 
ELEVATION OF PASSES IN THE SIERRA NEVADA. 
Name of pass. 
Latitude. 
Longitude. 
Altitude. 
Authority. 
Madelin Pass____ 
o / " 
40 44 12 
o ' n 
5, 667 
Beckwith. 
Plateau_,_,_ 
5,420 
Second summit of Madelin Pass___ 
5, 596 
Noble’s Pass.____ 
6,074 
u 
Carson Pass___...._ 
38 42 15 
119 56 41 
7,972 
Goddard. 
Luther’s Pass_ 
7,185 
Daggett’s Pass _ _ _ -____ 
6, 824 
tc 
Breccia Pass, near the middle fork of the Stanislaus 
10,150 
u 
Johnson’s Pass ___ 
6,752 
Walker’s Pass_ 
35 39 00 
5,306 
5,351 
4,008 
5,364 
Williamson. 
Humpahyamup____ ___ 
35 33 38 
Taheechaypah Pass_------------_-_ 
35 07 28 
ct 
Tejon . ___ 
35 02 47 
118 43 31 
Canada de las TJvas -_--------------------- 
34 54 40 
4,315 
The elevation of the peak of Shasta is estimated as not less than 18,000 feet, and several peaks 
or ridges near the sources of the American, the Calaveras, and Stanislaus rivers are, probably, 
over 12,000. 
Summits, covered with perpetual snow, are visible in favorable conditions of the air from the 
valley of the Sacramento, and appear hut little nearer to the observer when he has travelled 
thirty or forty miles towards them, and ascended 2,500 or 3,000 feet. They are also visible from 
the San Joaquin plains, and present a beautiful appearance from the vicinity of the Four Creeks, 
on the Tulare plains. The snow-covered peaks and ridges form a long line, and, although dis¬ 
tant, stand out in full view, and glitter in the sun’s rays, or become tinted with red and purple 
at sunset. The chain ceases to merit the name of snowy nearly under the parallel of 36° ; for, 
from this point, southward, the snow does not remain through the year. This point is in 
the vicinity of Walker’s Pass, and is just north of the sources of Posuncula river. Between 
Walker’s Pass and the Tejon the elevated valleys are well watered by streams, the soil is deep 
and good, and grass grows luxuriantly. There are, also, extensive groves of beautiful oaks, 
covering parts of the surface so as to form natural parks. 
BERNARDINO MOUNTAINS, OR BERNARDINO SIERRA. 
The ranges which compose the Bernardino Sierra are nearly transverse to the southern end of 
the Sierra Nevada, and extend from that point, a few degrees south of east, to the high, and 
well-known peak of San Bernardino, in longitude 117°. 
