B-24 Pass
Peak · 11,693 ft · Kings Canyon & Sequoia corridor
B-24 Pass is an 11,693-foot alpine crossing in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor of the Sierra Nevada. Wind-scoured and avalanche-prone, it demands clear conditions and solid snowpack judgment.
B-24 Pass sits fully exposed at the crest; wind accelerates over the pass rim by mid-afternoon, especially when pressure systems track north of the Sierra. Morning calm gives way to sustained flow by 2 p.m. Snow persists well into late spring, and cornices form on lee slopes during loading events. Check avalanche bulletins before approach.
Over the past 30 days, the average NoGo Score was 36.0, with wind averaging 9 mph and temperature holding at 28 degrees Fahrenheit. Maximum gusts reached 24 mph. The week ahead will continue typical early-summer transition patterns: morning windows narrow as solar input increases and thermal winds build. Snowpack is the gating factor; assess current ESAC advisories before committing.
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About B-24 Pass
B-24 Pass connects the Inyo and Kings Canyon drainages in the remote southern Sierra. At 11,693 feet, it sits on the crest between the Great Western Divide and the High Sierra proper, accessible primarily from Highway 395 via the Inyo National Forest road system and from the west via the Kings River drainage. Access is high-clearance only in the approach; the pass itself is a ski or snowshoe crossing. The nearest trailhead gateway is Lone Pine (Highway 395 south of Bishop), roughly 45 miles away. Winter and spring approach requires either a multi-day backpack or helicopter access; summer traffic is negligible.
Conditions at B-24 Pass reflect alpine crest exposure. The rolling 30-day average wind was 9 mph, but gusts reach 24 mph during frontal passages. Temperature averages 28 degrees Fahrenheit in the rolling 30 days; the annual range spans 12 to 44 degrees. The pass is windy in the afternoon, calmer at dawn and dusk. Crowding averages 2.0 on a 10-point scale. Spring brings wet-slab avalanche risk as solar input increases; early summer transitions to wind slab formation. By late summer the pass is snow-free and reliably stable, but nights remain well below freezing even at peak season.
B-24 Pass is for climbers, ski mountaineers, and experienced backcountry skiers with avalanche training. The Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor attracts users seeking remote alpine crossings away from established trails and permits. Winter and spring approach demands beacon, probe, and shovel. Parking is nonexistent at the pass itself; users stage from Lone Pine or the Inyo National Forest access roads. Expect to be self-sufficient for 2 to 4 days. Summer ascents are shorter and faster but still exposed to afternoon wind. Route-finding in whiteout is difficult; GPS and map competency are essential.
B-24 Pass sits in direct comparison with nearby high-crest passes on the Great Western Divide. Mount Whitney (14,505 feet, 65 air miles south) draws crowds by the thousands; B-24 remains quiet. The Kearsarge Pass (11,823 feet, directly north) and Forester Pass (13,180 feet, further north) are busier but have more established trail infrastructure. B-24's low popularity and remote approach make it a serious mountaineer objective. Check ESAC (Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center) forecasts, especially for April and May when cornicing and wind loading peak. Cell service is unreliable; carry a satellite communicator.