The low point on Tehachapi Pass is . This is significantly higher than Pacheco Pass at over the Diablo Range, and so this is a more formidable engineering challenge. For comparison, the route over Pacheco Pass begins in Chowchilla (elevation ), crosses the valley floor and climbs to the pass (elevation ), and descends to Gilroy (elevation ). The route over the Tehachapi Pass begins in Bakersfield (elevation ), crosses the valley floor and climbs over steeper mountains to the pass (elevation ), then descends to Palmdale (elevation ).