Cloudripper
Peak · 13,523 ft · Eastern Sierra corridor
Cloudripper is a 13,523-foot peak in California's Eastern Sierra, sitting above the headwaters of the Owens River drainage. A stark, exposed summit with consistent afternoon wind and winter snowpack.
Wind accelerates through the afternoon as thermals rise off the lower basins. Morning calm windows close by midday. Temperatures average 19 degrees Fahrenheit over the rolling 30 days; expect single digits in winter and rapid cooling after sundown. Crowding is light year-round.
Over the last 30 days, Cloudripper averaged a NoGo Score of 37 with wind averaging 12 mph and temperatures at 19 degrees Fahrenheit. The week ahead will show how the typical late-spring wind pattern holds against any weather system pushing in from the Pacific. Watch the rolling 7-day forecast for wind spikes above the 30-day average.
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About Cloudripper
Cloudripper rises in the Eastern Sierra corridor east of the Sierra crest, roughly 8 miles north of the Tioga Pass and Highway 120 gateway. Access is via high-country scramble routes from the Mono Basin side or technical cross-country approaches from the Inyo National Forest. The nearest trailheads sit around 10,000 feet; expect 4 to 6 hours of ascent from the road. Winter access requires avalanche awareness and skis or snowshoes; the standard line crosses slope faces prone to slab failure when snowpack is unstable. ESAC (Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center) forecasts apply directly.
Spring conditions at Cloudripper are defined by wet-slab risk and afternoon wind. The 30-day rolling temperature average of 19 degrees masks a span from 5 degrees at night to above 32 degrees in afternoon sun, creating the freeze-thaw cycle that destabilizes slope bonds. Wind maxes at 46 mph in gusts; the rolling 30-day average of 12 mph understates the consistent afternoon acceleration above 20 mph by late April. Crowding remains minimal; the base popularity rating of 0.2 reflects the technical approach and avalanche exposure. Summer sees climbing conditions improve and wind remain steady. Fall offers windows of calm mornings before winter storm cycles return.
Cloudripper suits experienced climbers and mountaineers comfortable with snow travel, route-finding, and self-rescue. Dayhikes are feasible once established trails open and snowpack stabilizes. Avoid afternoon ascents when wind builds. Plan for darkness by 6 p.m. in spring, extending to 9 p.m. in summer. Bring layers and a shelter; the summit is exposed and wind chill drops the effective temperature well below the 19-degree average. Water sources are scarce above 12,000 feet; melt snow or carry reserve. Cell coverage is unreliable.
Nearby Cathedral Range peaks (Cathedral Peak, Johnson Peak) lie west across the Sierra crest and see more crowding and shorter approach distances. Mount Dana, the second-highest peak in the range at 13,053 feet, sits 12 miles south and offers a shorter but steeper ascent from Tioga Pass. Cloudripper is colder and more exposed than Dana; wind and avalanche terrain are primary constraints. For lower-elevation alternatives in the corridor, Mammoth Mountain and the Mono Basin crags offer shelter and faster access.