Deadwood Peak
Peak · 9,799 ft · Yosemite corridor
Deadwood Peak sits at 9,799 feet in the Yosemite Sierra Nevada corridor, a high alpine summit exposed to sustained wind and winter snow. Access is primarily via the eastern Sierra approach.
Wind dominates at Deadwood Peak. The 30-day average wind is 11 mph, but gusts push to 26 mph by afternoon. Temperatures average 28 degrees Fahrenheit across the rolling 30 days. Morning calm windows close fast; plan for afternoon exposure and snow-slab terrain instability in spring.
Deadwood Peak has averaged a NoGo Score of 31 over the last 30 days, with low scores dipping to 6 and peaks hitting 50. The 30-day average wind of 11 mph and temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit reflect sustained alpine winter and spring conditions. The week ahead will track typical Sierra variability; watch for afternoon wind escalation and post-storm snowpack settling before committing to technical terrain.
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About Deadwood Peak
Deadwood Peak is a 9,799-foot alpine summit in the Yosemite corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. The peak sits in high avalanche terrain managed by the Sierra Avalanche Center. Primary access is via Highway 395 from the eastern Sierra gateway towns; the peak is reached via scramble and climbing routes from the Mono Basin side. The approach demands familiarity with alpine routefinding and avalanche assessment. Winter and spring ascents require crampons, ice axes, and competence on snow-slab terrain. The summit is exposed on all flanks to wind and weather systems moving across the crest.
Conditions at Deadwood Peak are Alpine winter-dominant throughout the rolling 30 days, with an average temperature of 28 degrees Fahrenheit and sustained wind averaging 11 mph. Maximum wind recorded is 26 mph, typical for afternoons when valley heating drives upslope flow. The annual temperature range spans 17 degrees Fahrenheit at minimum to 41 degrees Fahrenheit maximum, concentrating the best scrambling window to late summer and early fall. Spring and early summer see persistent snowpack and slab hazard; avalanche awareness is non-negotiable. Crowding averages 3 across the rolling period, reflecting the peak's technical nature and short accessible season.
Deadwood Peak suits experienced alpinists and scrambler-mountaineers willing to navigate avalanche terrain and sustained wind exposure. The low base popularity of 0.2 means solitude is the norm. Most ascents happen during stable weather windows in late summer and early fall when snow is gone and wind is more predictable. Winter ascents demand avalanche transceiver, probe, shovel, and recent SAC forecast review. Afternoon wind and temperature loss are the dominant dailies; head before dawn, expect to descend by early afternoon. Parking and trailhead access are limited; arrive early or plan weekday ascents to avoid staging congestion.
The Yosemite corridor offers several related peaks and approaches. Nearby high peaks in the same drainage present similar wind and avalanche conditions but lower technical difficulty. Highway 395 provides the primary access corridor; towns like Lee Vining and Mammoth Lakes offer supplies and overnight staging. Weather systems that bring high wind and slab instability to Deadwood Peak affect the entire eastern Sierra crest; monitor the Sierra Avalanche Center and NOAA alpine forecasts before committing to any summit bid above 9,500 feet in this corridor.