Sonora Pass

Holly and her husband Doug invited us to their cabin at Twin Lakes on the eastern side of the Sierras, not far from Bridgeport.

Phil readies VW for trip

Sparky peeks out back window

Phil and Sue (Peter's brother/sister-in-law) drove down from Oregon and we met up at Sue's folks in San Jose.






Up and Over the Pass


Sonora Pass (el. 9624 ft. / 2933 m.) is the second-highest highway pass in the Sierra Nevada, lower by 321 ft. (about 98 m.) than Tioga Pass to the south.

It's gorgeous up here

Still lots of snow ... brrrr

At times we're not too sure if the old VW van will make it over the pass... after all, it did used to belong to their Mother in the 1970's.  We've lost count of how many times it's engine's been rebuilt.

Still chugging along

Ahhh... we've reached the source

OMG - We Made It!

Wow - it's over 9000 feet.  No wonder the VW van was wheezing.  We will probably be too at this altitude.  Hummmm.... that steep downhill grade warning sign looks ominous.

Sonora Pass Summit

After a white knuckle ride down from the top of the summit, we've finally reach more level ground.  Don't think we'll be driving this road from west to east again.  Too hard on the breaks and our nerves.

We finally make it to the cabin.

Sue and Phil flash "Winning" signs

Peter and the Puppies are POOPED !