Contact Pass
Peak · 9,156 ft · Lake Tahoe corridor
Contact Pass is a 9,156-foot Sierra Nevada peak in the Lake Tahoe corridor, located east of the main lake basin. Wind and avalanche terrain dominate the experience; conditions here are more severe than sheltered coves on the western shore.
Wind accelerates through Contact Pass as afternoon develops, funneling off the lake and across the ridgeline. Expect 13 mph average with gusts to 28 mph in the rolling 30-day window. Morning calm is rare; by mid-afternoon, exposure and wind load make any approach significantly more difficult.
The 30-day average wind of 13 mph and temperature of 31 degrees Fahrenheit reflect late-season instability at 9,156 feet. Avalanche terrain risk remains acute through spring snowmelt. The chart below shows the past 30 days and the 7-day outlook: watch for wind spikes and temperature swings that destabilize the snowpack.
30 days back / 7 days forward
Today's score by factor
About Contact Pass
Contact Pass sits on the high crest east of Lake Tahoe, at 9,156 feet elevation in the Sierra Nevada. Access is via Highway 50 from the west or Highway 395 from the east; most visitors approach from the Tahoe basin side and hike or ski the ridgeline. The pass is remote, with limited parking and no developed facilities. Winter and spring conditions require avalanche awareness and winter skills; summer and early autumn are the safest windows, though afternoon wind remains the dominant constraint year-round.
Contact Pass experiences harsh high-altitude weather year-round. The 30-day average temperature is 31 degrees Fahrenheit; annual minimums drop to 14 degrees, and summer highs reach 45 degrees. Wind averages 13 mph but regularly gusts to 28 mph, with no shelter on the ridgeline itself. Crowding is minimal (2.0 average on the rolling 30-day window), reflecting the pass's exposure and the stamina required to reach it. Late September through early October offers the best combination of stable snowpack below and lower afternoon wind. Winter brings avalanche terrain exposure and frequent whiteout conditions.
Contact Pass suits experienced mountaineers, backcountry skiers, and ridge runners accustomed to high-altitude exposure and self-rescue. Parties should plan for avalanche terrain assessment and carry beacon, shovel, and probe. Wind makes this pass especially punishing for exposed camping or slow ascents; descend or seek shelter by mid-afternoon. The minimal crowding means solitude, but also no rescue infrastructure nearby. Cell service is unreliable. Weather can change in minutes; a calm morning does not guarantee afternoon safety.
Contact Pass sits in the rain-shadow zone east of the main Tahoe crest, which makes it drier but windier than west-side peaks like Freel Peak or Monument Peak. The pass is a logical crossing point for high-country traverses linking the eastern Sierra to the Tahoe basin, but most casual visitors find better shelter and easier access at lower-elevation lake-shore spots or more protected ridgeline routes to the south or north.