Broken Finger Peak
Peak · 13,067 ft · Mammoth Lakes corridor
Broken Finger Peak rises to 13,067 feet in the Mammoth Lakes corridor, a high-alpine summit with avalanche terrain and exposed ridges. Afternoon winds dominate; morning ascents avoid the worst of it.
Wind accelerates into afternoon thermals, funneling up from the Owens Valley drainage. The 30-day average wind runs 15 mph, but gusts exceed 40 mph by mid-day. Exposed rock and thin snowpack mean weather shifts hit fast. Head out before 10 a.m. if you're climbing.
Over the last 30 days, Broken Finger Peak averaged 37 NoGo Score with temperatures around 19°F and winds holding at 15 mph, though peaks exceed 42 mph. The week ahead will track similar patterns; morning windows remain tight and afternoon instability is the rule. Watch for wind spikes after 2 p.m.
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About Broken Finger Peak
Broken Finger Peak sits at 13,067 feet in California's Sierra Nevada, east of the Mammoth Lakes basin and directly above the high-altitude drainages that feed the Owens Valley. Access is via US Highway 395 to Mammoth Lakes, then local mountain roads or hiking routes that branch into the backcountry north and east of the town. The peak itself sees low base popularity (0.2), meaning traffic is sparse compared to Mammoth Mountain or the Sherwin Range. Drive time from Bishop is roughly 45 minutes; from Lone Pine, just over an hour. Winter and spring approach requires high-clearance vehicles or established trail networks once snow deepens.
Broken Finger Peak sits in the domain of the Eastern Sierra Avalanche Center (ESAC). The terrain is avalanche-prone; north and east-facing slopes hold snow longer and fracture under load during thaw cycles and wind slab formation. Year-round conditions swing dramatically: the 365-day maximum temperature reaches 33°F, but winter lows plunge to 2°F, and the peak can clock 42 mph gusts in any season. The 30-day average of 15 mph wind is low only in relative terms for this exposed ridgeline; mornings in late winter and spring are calmer, afternoons routinely hostile. Late September through October offers the most stable snowpack and mildest winds, though cold snaps arrive without warning.
Broken Finger Peak suits mountaineers and ski-mountaineers comfortable with avalanche terrain and navigation in poor visibility. Most visitors are experienced summiteers familiar with ESAC forecasts and capable of reading slope aspect and snowpack bonding. Crowding averages 2.0 on the 30-day rolling window (minimal), so parking and trail congestion are not constraints. Plan for full winter gear even in spring; the summit is never warm. Water and shelter are absent; self-sufficiency is mandatory. Weather windows close fast; a morning forecast of 20 mph wind can shift to 35 mph by noon.
Nearby alternatives in the Mammoth corridor include peaks along the Sherwin Range and the higher, more accessible summits in the Mammoth Lakes Wilderness to the west. Mammoth Mountain itself offers skiable terrain and a gondola, but Broken Finger Peak appeals to those seeking solitude and technical mountaineering over resort infrastructure. The lower elevation valleys around Bishop offer wind shelter but lack the alpine exposure that defines this peak.