As we tour the passes of the High Sierra, this is the view north from Silver Pass. At 10,350′ Silver Pass is the second major pass when hiking south in the HIgh Sierra (after Donohue Pass) but for northbound hikers much less of a challenge than those you have already conquered.
Silver Pass gets its name from the same place as the Silver Divide and Silver Creek. The name “Silver” (at least in regards to this part of the Sierra Nevada) began when Theodore S. Solomons, who some call the “father” of the John Muir Trail, named Silver Creek in 1892. He thought its rushing water appeared silvery, and thus the name. Silver Peak was also named by Solomons, presumably because of its proximity to the creek. The USGS took the name further; when the Mount Goddard map of 1912 was first published the Silver Divide appeared on it, as did Silver Pass.
