Those who think they know everything - Really annoy those of us who do!

All kidding and silliness aside;

USGS 7.5 minute topographic maps ("Cisco Grove Quadrangle - N3915-W12030/7.5" and "Blue Canyon Quadrangle - N3915-W12037.5/7.5"), places Yuba Gap squarely where I80 crosses the Nevada county - Placer county line, 14,000ft east of Emigrant Gap (where I80 crosses over the SP - also where SP crosses from the south to the north side of the ridge).

7000ft further east of Yuba Gap on the highway, where I80 crosses SP again (between the east and west ends of the I80+SR20 interchange) is a label on the map declaring this to be "Yuba Pass"! There is a cut where the railroad goes through a jut-out of the mountain (if memory serves, there is also a short tunnel); while the highway goes around. Both are now on the north side of the main paralleling ridge.

Between Emigrant Gap and Yuba Gap, the highway is on the south side of the ridge (near the top), but passes through a gap between two peaks (Labeled as Yuba Gap); while the railroad is already on the other side of the ridge, 1500ft to the north. Between Yuba Gap and Yuba Pass, I80 crosses the ridge at a low point, joining the railroad on the north side.

Since it appears the railroad does not go through Yuba Gap (I80 does), I doubt the railroad named it that. I suppose that Theodore Judah may have named the Gap during his original survey, but it is more likely that earlier pioneers named it for the river below the north side of the ridge. But the railroad does go through a rocky jut-out at a spot labeled "Yuba Pass" on the map.

Now - none of this precludes another Yuba Pass somewhere else; much as there is an "Eagle Lake" on many mountain quadrangle maps. Even this map has an area labeled "Eagle Lakes"! Just as there are two Brentwoods, California, Two Elmontes, and so on. There are even two Moscows on the planet!

So, exactly where is this other Yuba Pass on SR49?

Hope all this provides some clarity!

OPB