Hooper Peak
Peak · 9,573 ft · Yosemite corridor
Hooper Peak rises 9,573 feet in Yosemite's high Sierra corridor, a remote alpine summit with consistent wind exposure and avalanche terrain. Access is steep and seasonal.
Wind averages 11 mph but funnels unpredictably above treeline, peaking in afternoon thermals. Temperature averages 25 degrees Fahrenheit across the rolling 30-day window. Approach from the east is exposed; morning starts are calmer than midday onward.
Over the last 30 days, Hooper Peak has averaged a NoGo Score of 33 with wind averaging 11 mph and temperatures holding at 25 degrees Fahrenheit. The week ahead shows typical late-spring patterns: expect morning windows before 10 a.m. to offer the calmest conditions. Wind gusts have peaked at 30 mph in the rolling 30-day window, so afternoon ascents are high-risk.
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About Hooper Peak
Hooper Peak sits on the eastern crest of Yosemite's high corridor, at 9,573 feet. Access routes approach from the west via Highway 120 (Tioga Pass corridor) or from the east via Sierra Alpine routes. The peak sits above the Mono Basin drainage and commands views across the Cathedral Range. Most climbers approach via the Yosemite high country, parking at trailheads off Highway 120 near Tenaya Lake or Tuolumne Meadows. The drive from Yosemite Valley takes 45 to 60 minutes depending on snow closure status on Highway 120.
Hooper Peak carries significant avalanche terrain on its north and east-facing slopes. The 30-day rolling average temperature is 25 degrees Fahrenheit with wind averaging 11 mph; however, gusts routinely reach 30 mph in the afternoon. Winter and spring approaches require careful snowpack assessment through the Sierra Avalanche Center. The zone transforms sharply as spring progresses: early access is winter-technical, with snow-filled gullies and corniced ridges. By late season, rock becomes exposed and conditions shift to wind and exposure as primary hazards. Crowding averages 3 on the rolling 30-day scale, reflecting the peak's remote location and technical nature.
Hooper Peak suits climbers with high-altitude mountaineering experience and avalanche-aware snow travel skills. The summit demands early morning starts to avoid afternoon wind and thunderstorm risk. Late-season (post-June) ascents avoid snow instability but remain windy. Experienced visitors plan around the 30-day maximum wind of 30 mph and the average afternoon acceleration. Weather windows are narrow; a calm morning can deteriorate by noon. Pack for exposed alpine conditions with temperature swings from the 11-degree minimum seen in the rolling 365-day window to warmer afternoon air.
Nearby alternatives include Cathedral Peak and Mount Dana, both accessible from the Tuolumne Meadows corridor via Highway 120. Cathedral Peak is lower and less technical but equally exposed to wind. Mount Dana sits farther north and is more isolated. Hooper Peak bridges the two in difficulty and remoteness. The Yosemite corridor as a whole sees 33 as a typical NoGo Score average; Hooper Peak reflects the high-Sierra norm for wind exposure and avalanche hazard density.