Poop Out Pass
Peak · 9,118 ft · Kings Canyon & Sequoia corridor
Poop Out Pass is a 9,118-foot peak in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. It sits at the headwaters of the Kern Plateau, exposed to afternoon wind funneling off surrounding basins.
Wind drives the experience here. The 30-day average is 9 mph, but afternoon gusts routinely exceed 20 mph as thermals off lower elevations push upslope. Mornings are calmer and colder. Temperature swings from 18 degrees in winter to 50 degrees in summer.
Over the last 30 days, Poop Out Pass averaged a NoGo Score of 36, with wind averaging 9 mph and temperature holding at 33 degrees. Crowding has been light at 2.0 on the scale. The week ahead will test your tolerance for exposure; expect continued afternoon wind acceleration and variable snow cover at or above treeline.
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About Poop Out Pass
Poop Out Pass sits on the high Kern Plateau in the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor, roughly 9,118 feet of elevation. Access is primarily from the west via Highway 180 from Fresno, which climbs into Kings Canyon National Park, or from the south via Highway 395 and passes that feed into the plateau zone. The pass itself marks a drainage divide; water splits between the Kern River system to the south and tributaries feeding the Kings River to the north. Most foot traffic approaches from established pass routes or high-country crossings rather than direct vehicle access.
Conditions here are defined by altitude and exposure. The 30-day average wind of 9 mph masks a sharp pattern: calm mornings give way to persistent afternoon gusts that often exceed 15 mph by mid-day. Maximum wind in the rolling year has reached 26 mph. Temperature averages 33 degrees across the month, but annual extremes range from 18 degrees in deep winter to 50 degrees in summer. Crowding remains sparse at 2.0 on the scale, typical for high-plateau terrain away from major trailheads. Late spring and early autumn bring the most stable windows; winter snowpack is heavy and avalanche terrain is present on steeper approaches.
Poop Out Pass suits experienced ridge walkers and high-country scramble enthusiasts comfortable with sustained wind and variable footing. The sparse crowding reflects the pass's position on the plateau rather than on a signature through-route. Visitors plan around afternoon wind acceleration; a calm morning window is the operative strategy. Snowpack conditions dictate access from roughly May through October; winter and early spring require avalanche assessment and appropriate gear. The exposure is real: afternoon thermals and orographic lift push wind hard, and there is no shelter once you top the pass.
Nearby high-country alternatives include passes and peaks scattered across the upper Kern Plateau and the Kings Canyon drainage system. The plateau's interior is less trafficked than the main Sierra Crest passes to the east and west; visitors seeking quieter terrain at similar elevations find the Kings Canyon and Sequoia corridor less crowded than comparable zones along Highway 395 or the Yosemite high country. Lower-elevation approaches via the main canyon drainages offer milder conditions but longer approaches from valley gateways.