I think, for wider culture of the Pacific crest region of the US at large, many of the most important "passes" are transverse because they connect the interior west to the coastal west. These are important to PCT thru-hikers because they're roadheads with re-supply opportunity. Many of the axial ones are important because they are long climbs and descents.
I think Aimless hit the bullseye:
I just hiked the PCT from Stevens Pass to Pass Creek last week. The route winds in and out along the ridgecrest for miles and miles along the way. There were dozens of "passes." Sometimes going up/down, sometimes down/up, down/down, and up/up. It's all kind of arbitrary!Aimless wrote: ↑August 16th, 2021, 1:50 pmDefining a pass is relatively simple. It is the lowest accessible point in crossing between two valleys. The problems are introduced with the modifiers "major" and to a lesser extent "mountain". These introduce elements that are quite subjective and can only be 'accurately' defined by introducing wholly arbitrary criteria.