Battalion Pass
Peak · 5,670 ft · Yosemite corridor
Battalion Pass sits at 5670 feet in the Yosemite corridor of the Sierra Nevada, a high alpine peak with avalanche terrain and moderate exposure to afternoon wind.
Wind averages 6 mph over the rolling month but gusts to 17 mph by afternoon. Mornings are typically calmer; skip mid-day if you're sensitive to exposure. Spring snowpack requires avalanche awareness on steeper approaches.
Over the last 30 days, Battalion Pass averaged 46 degrees and 6 mph wind, with a NoGo Score of 31. The next week holds similar patterns. Watch the trend chart for afternoon wind spikes and crowding surges tied to clear-weather weekends.
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About Battalion Pass
Battalion Pass is a high alpine peak at 5670 feet on the eastern flank of the Yosemite corridor in California's Sierra Nevada. Access is via High Sierra Camp routes or the Sierra backcountry network from Yosemite Valley; most parties approach from Highway 120 (Tioga Pass Road) or via the central Valley trails from Tuolumne Meadows. The nearest gateway towns are Lee Vining (east, lower elevation, drier) and Yosemite Village (west, busier, lower elevation). Hiking and scrambling are the primary use; the peak sits in avalanche terrain and is best visited when snowpack is stable or absent.
Battalion Pass sits in a zone where afternoon wind funnels up the drainages and ridgelines. The 30-day rolling average is 6 mph, but gusts reach 17 mph by mid-afternoon on clear days. Temperatures average 46 degrees over the rolling month; the 365-day range spans 34 degrees in winter to 63 degrees in summer. Spring (April through May) brings high snowpack and avalanche risk; the Sierra Avalanche Center monitors this zone. Summer is the safest window for travel, though afternoon thunderstorms become common by mid-July. Crowding is light year-round (average 3.0 out of 10) because the pass sits remote and requires sustained effort to reach.
Battalion Pass suits experienced backcountry users comfortable with route-finding, avalanche awareness, and self-rescue. Day hikes are rare; most visitors plan overnight or multi-day trips. Parking at Yosemite facilities fills quickly on weekends during summer; book in advance or arrive on a weekday morning. Spring travel demands current snowpack and avalanche forecasts from the Sierra Avalanche Center; wet-slab risk peaks after warm afternoons. Summer hikers should plan to be off the peak by early afternoon to avoid thunderstorm exposure. The peak is not suited for casual walkers or families seeking marked trails.
Nearby alternatives include Cathedral Peak (5632 feet, higher traffic, better-marked approaches) and Echo Peak (5762 feet, slightly higher, similar exposure patterns). Tuolumne Meadows offers lower-elevation day hikes and car camping with services. For those seeking solitude and willing to navigate terrain, Battalion Pass delivers; the low base popularity (0.2) reflects its position deep in the backcountry network, not a lack of merit.