Deadman Pass
Peak · 9,990 ft · Yosemite corridor
Deadman Pass is a 9990-foot peak in the Yosemite corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. High exposure and winter avalanche terrain define the approach.
Wind averages 10 mph but funnels through the pass in afternoon gusts. Temperature swings from 14 degrees Fahrenheit in winter to the low 40s in summer. Mornings are consistently calmer and clearer; afternoon deterioration is predictable.
The 30-day average wind of 10 mph masks strong daily variability. The pass has seen gusts to 26 mph in the last month alone. Expect crowding to remain minimal (3.0 average) even as conditions improve. Plan around morning windows and monitor avalanche forecasts if snow is present.
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About Deadman Pass
Deadman Pass sits at 9990 feet in the high Sierra between the Yosemite corridor and the eastern slope. It is accessed via Highway 120 (Tioga Pass Road) from the west and Highway 395 from the east. The peak lies roughly 2 hours from Yosemite Valley and 90 minutes from Lee Vining. Primary approach is from the Tioga Pass area; the immediate terrain is exposed and windswept. Low base popularity (0.2) means minimal foot traffic and quick parking windows when conditions align.
Deadman Pass sits in avalanche terrain managed by the Sierra Avalanche Center. Winter and spring snowpack instability is a serious hazard; the pass funnels wind-loaded snow into gullies prone to slab release. Temperature averages 29 degrees Fahrenheit over the last 30 days, well below the threshold for stability. Summer (max temp 43 degrees Fahrenheit over the year) brings bare ground but remains cold even in July. Crowding averages 3.0 out of 10, consistent with remote high-Sierra locations. Access is severely constrained by snowpack from October through May; Highway 120 closures are routine.
Deadman Pass suits backcountry travelers, ski tourers, and winter mountaineers with avalanche training and rescue equipment. Summer hikers find technical scrambling and exposure. Wind exposure is the dominant planning constraint year-round. The 30-day average wind of 10 mph conceals gusts up to 26 mph, concentrated in afternoon hours. Mornings deliver the calmest, clearest windows. Skip the pass if afternoon weather deteriorates or if snowpack conditions are unstable; the SAC avalanche forecast is mandatory reading before any winter approach.
Nearby peaks in the Yosemite corridor include Mount Dana (13,053 feet, more popular but higher) and Mount Conness (12,590 feet, similar elevation and exposure). Deadman Pass is lower and more accessible but less trafficked and more wind-prone than either. For a less exposed alternative in similar terrain, Mono Pass to the south offers a lower-angle saddle with comparable views but gentler approach angles. High-country visitors often pair Deadman Pass with the Tioga Pass area traverses or ski tours across the crest.