Pennask Summit is a highway summit along the Okanagan Connector in British Columbia

British Columbia

British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

, crossing the forested uplands of the Thompson Plateau

Thompson Plateau

The Thompson Plateau, also known as the Okanagan-Thompson Plateau, forms the southern portion of the Interior Plateau of British Columbia, Canada, lying to the west of Okanagan Lake, south of the Thompson River and to the east of the Fraser River...

. It is the highest point on the highway between the cities of Merritt

Merritt, British Columbia

Merritt is a city in the Nicola Valley of the south-central Interior of British Columbia, Canada. Situated at the confluence of the Nicola and Coldwater rivers, it is the first major community encountered after travelling along Phase One of the Coquihalla Highway and acts as the gateway to all...

 and Peachland

Peachland, British Columbia

Peachland is a district municipality of approximately 5000 residents in the Okanagan Valley, on the west side of Okanagan Lake in British Columbia, Canada. It was founded in 1899 by John Moore Robinson, although the region had long been home to the Okanagan people...

. It is the second highest mountain pass used by a highway in British Columbia, after Kootenay Pass

Kootenay Pass

Kootenay Pass, known locally as "the Salmo-Creston" is a mountain pass in the Selkirk Mountains of British Columbia, Canada. It is utilized by the Crowsnest Highway to transverse the Selkirks, connecting the communities of Salmo and Creston...

. It is located 49 km (30 mi) east of Aspen Grove, and 33 km (21 mi) west of the highway junction in Peachland/Westbank.

The road grades to this summit are very steep and go for miles - especially when travelling westbound, exiting the Okanagan Valley.

History

The pass is named after the nearby Pennask Creek, and was first used in 1991, upon completion of this freeway.

External links

• Grade profile of Highway 97C, including Pennask Summit.