Col de Doodad
Peak · 11,447 ft · Yosemite corridor
Col de Doodad is an 11,447-foot peak in the Yosemite corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. Situated in high-elevation terrain above glacial cirques, it commands exposure to westerly wind funneling off the Sierra crest.
Col de Doodad lives in the wind. West-facing slopes funnel afternoon gusts that routinely exceed 30 mph by mid-day. Morning hours before 10 a.m. are noticeably calmer. Snowpack persists into early summer; avalanche terrain demands respect during freeze-thaw cycles and after new snow.
Over the last 30 days, Col de Doodad has averaged 16 mph wind and 21 degrees Fahrenheit, with the 30-day NoGo Score holding at 33. Gusts have reached 42 mph. The week ahead will track typical spring patterns: cool nights, variable afternoon wind, and lingering snow patches. Plan early departures to dodge the afternoon wind window.
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About Col de Doodad
Col de Doodad sits astride the high-Sierra watershed between Yosemite Valley and the eastern slope, accessed primarily via Highway 120 (Tioga Pass Road) from the west or Highway 395 from the east. The peak lies in avalanche terrain; approach routes cross gullies and col crossings that shed slabs during spring and after heavy precipitation. Winter ascents require current avalanche forecasts from the Sierra Avalanche Center. Summer approach is drier but exposed to afternoon wind. Base popularity is low; most traffic clusters on adjacent named summits and the Tioga Pass corridor itself.
Conditions here are driven by elevation and westerly exposure. The rolling 30-day average wind stands at 16 mph, but gusts spike to 42 mph during the afternoon heating cycle. Temperature averages 21 degrees Fahrenheit across the rolling month; the 365-day minimum is 8 degrees (winter), the maximum 34 degrees (early summer). Crowding averages 3 out of 10, meaning solitude is the norm. Spring snowpack creates instability on steeper terrain; wait for consolidation and lower avalanche danger before committing to technical lines. By mid-summer, snow retreats to north-facing gullies and the col can be dry or scree-covered.
Col de Doodad suits mountaineers comfortable with scrambling, exposed ridges, and self-rescue. Solo hikers should know the weather window is tight: calm mornings (before 10 a.m.) versus sustained afternoon wind. Experienced Sierra visitors pack layers and water, check the Sierra Avalanche Center forecast before any winter approach, and descend before 2 p.m. Parking at the Tioga Pass trailhead or Highway 120 pullouts fills on weekends; weekday traffic is minimal. Cell service is unreliable; map and compass are mandatory. The peak sits close enough to Highway 120 that afternoon thunderstorms can develop suddenly in late summer.
Nearby peaks in the Yosemite corridor include Mount Dana (13,053 ft), which sits higher and is more crowded, and Cathedral Range summits to the west, which offer slightly more shelter but require longer approach from the Valley. Col de Doodad's low base popularity makes it a refuge for hikers avoiding the Tioga Pass crowd. The col itself is a natural through-route; many parties traverse it en route to distant ridgelines rather than treating it as a summit objective. Winter ski touring and spring corn-climbing are possible but demand avalanche literacy and stable conditions.