Red Dog
Peak · 4,461 ft · North Sierra corridor
Red Dog is a 4,461 ft peak in California's North Sierra corridor, offering alpine terrain above the main range crest. Exposed ridgeline with afternoon wind the defining constraint.
Wind accelerates in afternoon as valley heat strengthens thermal circulation. Morning windows are reliably calmer. Expect 7 mph average with gusts to 15 mph. Crowding stays light. Snowpack lingers into late spring; assess slab stability before committing to steep terrain.
The 30-day average score of 35 reflects Red Dog's marginal spring window; morning missions succeed, afternoons close fast. The 30-day average wind of 7 mph masks afternoon spikes to 15 mph. Temperature hovers near 48 degrees. Watch the week ahead for wind trends on the chart below; a dip below 5 mph buys a full day window.
30 days back / 7 days forward
Today's score by factor
About Red Dog
Red Dog sits on the high-Sierra divide in the North Sierra corridor, roughly 60 miles northeast of Sacramento via Highway 80 and the Donner Pass approach. The peak is reachable as a day ascent from Forest Service roads and trailheads in the Yuba River drainage. Access is seasonal; snow closure on upper approaches typically lifts in late April through May. The location straddles avalanche terrain mapped by SAC (Sacramento Avalanche Center); winter and early spring ascents require competency in slab evaluation and safe travel in runout zones.
Red Dog's 30-day average score of 35 reflects its exposure to afternoon thermal wind; the location sees consistent gusts to 15 mph by mid-day. Temperature averages 48 degrees over the rolling month, with the year-round maximum of 65 degrees confined to summer. Crowding remains light at 5 average, a function of the peak's accessibility mainly to experienced alpinists and mountaineers. Late spring and early summer bring the most stable snowpack conditions, though avalanche hazard persists on slopes steeper than 35 degrees until mid-June. By July, the terrain dries and wind becomes the dominant variable.
Red Dog suits climbers comfortable with scrambling and exposed terrain above 4,400 feet. The peak is best tackled as a multi-hour push from lower elevation trailheads; turnaround discipline is mandatory given the afternoon wind regime. Experienced parties plan for a pre-dawn start and off-mountain by noon to avoid the worst gusts. Winter ascents are serious undertakings; snowpack stability assessment is non-negotiable. Spring conditions demand familiarity with slab fracture and self-rescue. Summer climbing trades snow hazard for wind variability and occasional smoke from lower-elevation fires.
Red Dog sits adjacent to other North Sierra passes and peaks accessible from Highway 80 and Highway 49 approaches. Nearby alternatives include traverses along the main crest toward Castle Peak and Devil's Peak, all accessible from similar gateways but with subtly different wind funneling and crowding patterns. The peak's primary utility is as a technical acclimatization objective or ski descent in spring for parties based in the Donner Summit or Truckee area.