Sixty Lakes Col
Peak · 11,714 ft · Eastern Sierra corridor
Sixty Lakes Col sits at 11,714 feet in the Eastern Sierra, a high alpine pass linking the Inyo and Kern drainages. Wind-exposed and snow-locked most of the year, it rewards early-season and autumn ascents with views into the Sierra crest.
Wind funnels through the col consistently; the 30-day average is 13 mph with gusts reaching 37 mph. Morning calm dissolves by mid-day. Exposed ridgeline with no shelter means conditions flip fast. Afternoon turbulence is the rule, not the exception.
Over the past 30 days, Sixty Lakes Col averaged a NoGo Score of 36, with temperatures around 23 degrees and wind holding at 13 mph average. The outlook ahead remains consistent with spring turnover; expect continued wind-driven volatility and lingering snowpack. The week ahead will test patience with afternoon gusts; early starts unlock the best windows.
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About Sixty Lakes Col
Sixty Lakes Col crowns the divide between the Inyo and Kern drainages at 11,714 feet, roughly 45 minutes northeast of Lone Pine via Highway 395 and the Onion Valley Road. The col itself is a high alpine pass accessed via multi-day backpack routes or technical day-climbing from Onion Valley trailhead. Most ascents approach from the west, threading through glaciated terrain and talus slopes. Elevation, exposure, and terrain commitment classify this as an intermediate-to-advanced destination; casual hikers do not wander here by accident.
Spring and early summer bring heavy snowpack; the col remains inaccessible until late June or early July depending on accumulation and sun angle. The 30-day average temperature of 23 degrees reflects April conditions; overnight lows regularly dip below zero. Wind is the dominant hazard year-round; the 30-day average wind of 13 mph masks hourly gusts that spike to 37 mph, and the col's ridgeline geometry funnels afternoon flow from the west and south. Crowding averages 2 on the 10-point scale, reflecting its technical character and multi-day approach. Late September through early October offer the most stable windows: snowpack is gone, afternoon winds are slightly moderated by shorter daylight, and temperatures climb into the high 20s to low 30s Fahrenheit.
Sixty Lakes Col suits mountaineers, experienced backpackers, and peak-baggers comfortable with cross-country navigation and steep talus descent. Plan for early starts; the col's wind regime makes morning hours, typically before 10 a.m., the only reliable climbing window. Bring avalanche awareness and a beacon if approaching in spring; winter and early-season ascents cross wind-scoured snow fields and potential slab terrain. Water sources are minimal on the col itself; cache melt or plan high-elevation camp placement. Parking at Onion Valley is limited and fills on weekends; mid-week ascents reduce both parking pressure and crowd encounters.
Nearby Kearsarge Pass (11,823 feet) lies directly west across the Inyo crest and offers marginally better crowding tolerance due to a day-hiking-friendly trailhead and established lake destinations. Independence Peak (12,000 feet) and Mather Pass (12,100 feet) sit further north in the high Sierra and attract similar technical traffic. The Eastern Sierra corridor as a whole experiences wind-driven NoGo conditions; Sixty Lakes Col's average NoGo Score of 36 matches the region's typical stress pattern, making it representative of high-alpine exposure in this zone.