Serpent's Tooth
Peak · Eastern Sierra corridor
Serpent's Tooth is a 9573-foot peak in the Eastern Sierra's high alpine zone, standing above the glacial lakes of the Inyo National Forest. Wind funnels across its summit ridges; shelter is scarce.
Afternoon thermals drive sustained wind gusts across the exposed ridge. Mornings are calmer but brief. Temperature swings 17 to 44 degrees Fahrenheit across the year. The peak sits above tree line; wind averaging 8 mph masks gusts that spike to 28 mph by midday.
The 30-day rolling average score of 36.0, with temperatures holding at 30 degrees Fahrenheit and wind at 8 mph, reflects spring conditions on high alpine terrain. Watch for afternoon wind loading and rapid temperature swings as the season turns. The week ahead tracks the typical late-spring pattern of calmer mornings and escalating gusts.
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About Serpent's Tooth
Serpent's Tooth sits in the high Eastern Sierra, accessible from US Highway 395 via the Mammoth Lakes corridor or the Bishop gateway to the south. The peak lies in Inyo National Forest, roughly two hours from Highway 395 at Mammoth. Most approaches involve high-elevation trailheads that remain snow-choked through late spring. Access requires either a winter mountaineering route or a snow-free scramble from the south. The location is backcountry; no maintained trail reaches the summit. Parking and trailhead access depend heavily on seasonal snow melt and Forest Service road conditions.
Serpent's Tooth is an avalanche terrain zone above 9000 feet. Winter through mid-spring, the peak sits in active snow-slab country; approach requires avalanche assessment and safe-travel discipline. Spring snowpack destabilizes rapidly as solar radiation increases. Summer and early fall offer rock and scree routes, but afternoon wind becomes the dominant hazard. The 30-day average temperature of 30 degrees Fahrenheit masks a wide range; highs touch 44 degrees in summer, lows drop to 17 degrees in winter. Wind averaging 8 mph across the month peaks at 28 mph in afternoon thermals. Crowding remains sparse; the rolling 30-day average of 2.0 reflects the peak's remote, technical character.
Serpent's Tooth suits experienced mountaineers and scramblers willing to navigate exposed terrain and avalanche-prone slopes. This is not a beginner peak. Summer and early-fall scrambles draw a handful of parties per month, mostly during windows of calm mornings. Winter and spring approaches demand crevasse rescue training, snow-climbing skill, and avalanche knowledge. Visitors plan around afternoon wind; heading up before dawn and descending by early afternoon is standard practice. The lack of water, shelter, and marked trail means solo travel is uncommon. Parties of three or more are typical.
Neighboring peaks in the Eastern Sierra corridor include Mount Humphreys (14505 feet, more technical), Mount Darwin (13831 feet, similar exposure), and peaks in the Bishop Pass drainage to the south. Serpent's Tooth offers a lower-elevation alternative to the highest summits while retaining full exposure to high-Sierra wind and terrain. Visitors often pair it with multi-day backcountry trips in the Inyo range. The sparse popularity (base score of 0.2) reflects its remoteness and technical requirements, making it distinct from more-trafficked Eastern Sierra destinations.