PLT OF C182 ENCOUNTERS POOR WX THROUGH A PASS AND CANNOT MAKE A 180 DEG. HE EXPERIENCES VERTIGO BUT RECOVERS AND CLBS TO CLR SKIES.

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PLANNED VFR FLT FROM WHP TO PTV FOR FLY-IN. DUATS/CIRRUS FORECAST CLR PALMDALE; LANCASTER (WJF; OUR STANDARD ALTERNATE) AND BAKERSFIELD CLR AFTER XA00. LEFT WHP WITH 5-6 MI IN HAZE. STAYED UNDER BURBANK CLASS B (3000 FT MSL) N TO NEWHALL PASS. COMMENCED CRUISE/CLB CLR OF CLASS B; JUST SHORT OF PASS. WHEN IN PASS -- HAZE BECAME WORSE; STAYED OVER FREEWAY (DIDN'T HAVE ROOM FOR A 180 DEG TURN IN PASS) AND BTWN HILLS ON EACH SIDE. LIGHT BLUE ABOVE; USUALLY COULD SEE PASS WAS BAD BEFORE ENTERING. I HAVE MADE 180 DEGS MANY TIMES FOR RETURN TO WHP. WHEN THROUGH PASS; BLACK AHEAD; BRIGHTER TO R (E OVER FREEWAY 14). WHEN MAKING R TURN; I LOST VIEW OF MOUNTAINS ON R (HIGH WING) AND VIEW OF RTE 14 BELOW; BLACK ON L. I HAD MY FIRST CASE OF VERTIGO WHEN I LOST OUTSIDE REF (I'VE BEEN FLYING 50 YRS). IT CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE. BY THE TIME I REALIZED IT; I WAS IN A 'GRAVEYARD SPIRAL' TO R -- ONLY TOOK 20-30 SECONDS! WENT ON GAUGES; LEVELED OUT AND MAX CLB PWR. IN THE CLR ABOVE AT 4500 FT. HEADED N ON COURSE; SAW FROM ABOVE THAT HAD I GONE STRAIGHT; I WOULD HAVE BEEN IFR IN SOLID CLOUD. I LUCKED OUT IN THE HAZE ZONE BTWN THE CLOUD AND THE MOUNTAIN (DFL). I FEEL I SHOULD HAVE GONE ON THE GAUGES BEFORE I LOST COMPLETE VISUAL REF. THE TIME I REQUIRED TO ACCOMMODATE TO THE GAUGES COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS. THIS WAS THE ONLY TIME (THAT I CAN REMEMBER) BEING 'SUCKERED IN' TO LOUSY CONDITIONS. I CAN USUALLY 'SEE AND AVOID' (DO A 180 DEG TURN).