Echo Peak #4
Peak · 10,846 ft · Yosemite corridor
Echo Peak #4 is a 10,846-foot alpine summit in the Yosemite corridor of the Sierra Nevada. Avalanche terrain and high winds dominate the approach; the peak draws climbers and backcountry skiers seeking technical access above the Echo Lakes drainage.
Echo Peak #4 sits in sustained wind funnel created by ridge exposure and lake-basin circulation. The 30-day average wind of 12 mph masks afternoon gusts that climb to 33 mph by mid-day. Morning windows close fast; summit conditions turn hostile by early afternoon in any season.
Over the last 30 days, Echo Peak #4 has averaged a NoGo Score of 32.0 with temperatures hovering near 24 degrees Fahrenheit and wind speeds of 12 mph; maximum gusts have reached 33 mph. The week ahead continues this pattern of high-altitude instability. Plan ascents for dawn starts and expect to descend by mid-morning to avoid wind and avalanche hazard during afternoon heating cycles.
30 days back / 7 days forward
Today's score by factor
About Echo Peak #4
Echo Peak #4 sits at 10,846 feet on the crest dividing the Echo Lakes basin from Desolation Wilderness in California's Sierra Nevada. The approach from Highway 50 via Echo Lakes Road reaches the Lake Tahoe National Forest boundary within a short drive from South Lake Tahoe; from there, backcountry access requires a scramble across talus and persistent snow depending on season. The peak is avalanche terrain and demands route-finding discipline in spring and early summer when snowpack instability peaks. Most climbers approach from the northeast via Echo Peak or from the southwest via the ridgeline above Lower Echo Lake.
Winter and spring dominate the climbing season here because snowpack consolidates in late spring and provides stable platforms for scrambling. The 30-day average temperature of 24 degrees Fahrenheit and the rolling 365-day minimum of 12 degrees mean that most conditions fall below freezing year-round above 10,000 feet. Summer brings brief windows of dry rock climbing, but afternoon thunderstorms and wind gusts to 33 mph render mid-day summits dangerous. Autumn, particularly late September, often delivers stable barometric pressure and calmer wind patterns. Crowding remains light year-round; base popularity sits at minimal levels, so solitude is the norm.
Echo Peak #4 suits climbers and ski mountaineers with avalanche awareness and route-finding skills. The peak is not a walk-up; exposure, technical scrambling, and avalanche-terrain navigation separate novices from experienced backcountry users. Wind is the controlling hazard: the 30-day average of 12 mph is a floor, not a typical day. Plan for dawn starts, carry a weather radio, and retreat if wind exceeds your threshold before 10 a.m. The SAC avalanche center covers this drainage; check forecasts before any spring or early-summer approach. Parking at Echo Lakes Road fills sporadically but never to the point of mandatory arrival times.
Echo Peak #4 is one of three major summits overlooking the Echo Lakes basin; Echo Peak to the south and Tamarack Peak to the north offer lower-elevation alternatives with similar views and less avalanche terrain. If afternoon wind is forecast to exceed 30 mph, consider Lake Aloha or the lower ridgeline scrambles on the east side of the basin, which sit partially sheltered from the dominant westerly flow. The peak pairs well with multi-day ski traverses across Desolation Wilderness in spring but demands competent crevasse rescue and avalanche beacon skills in all conditions.