Post Peak Pass
Peak · 10,741 ft · Yosemite corridor
Post Peak Pass sits at 10,741 feet in the Yosemite high country, straddling the crest of the Sierra Nevada. A windswept alpine crossing, it offers stark exposure and avalanche terrain that demands winter caution.
Wind dominates here. The pass funnels afternoon gusts down the ridgeline; morning calm rarely lasts past mid-day. Temperature averages 26 degrees Fahrenheit across the rolling 30-day window. Snowpack persists into late spring, and cornicing is common on the lee slope.
The 30-day average wind sits at 9 mph, with gusts hitting 30 mph on exposed days. Temperature averages 26 degrees Fahrenheit. The week ahead shows typical late-spring variability: watch for afternoon wind spikes and assess snowpack stability before travel. Avalanche terrain on the approach demands current SAC bulletins.
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About Post Peak Pass
Post Peak Pass rises at 10,741 feet in the Yosemite corridor of California's Sierra Nevada, roughly 30 miles southeast of Yosemite Valley. Access is primarily via Highway 120 (Tioga Road) heading east toward Lee Vining; the pass itself sits north of Mono Lake and east of the main Yosemite massif. Winter closure of Highway 120 makes the pass unreachable by road vehicle from late autumn through spring; summer approach is via the Tioga Road corridor from the west or via Mono Basin routes from the east. Gateway towns are Lee Vining (east side, 15 miles) and Yosemite Village (west side, roughly 40 miles). The location sits in Nevada-California boundary terrain; SAC (Sierra Avalanche Center) provides hazard forecasts.
Conditions at Post Peak Pass are defined by wind exposure and sustained cold. The 30-day average wind is 9 mph, with maximum gusts reaching 30 mph; afternoon acceleration is routine. Temperature averages 26 degrees Fahrenheit year-round across rolling 30-day data, ranging from a 365-day minimum of 13 degrees to a maximum of 40 degrees. Significant snowpack persists through spring; cornices form on the lee slope and instability is common during rapid temperature swings or fresh precipitation. The pass is fully snow-covered from October through May and transitions to bare ground by mid-summer. Crowding averages 3.0 on the rolling 30-day window, reflecting low popularity and road closures that block access in winter and early spring.
Post Peak Pass suits backcountry skiers, mountaineers, and high-Sierra trekkers comfortable with avalanche terrain and alpine exposure. Winter and early-spring travel demands avalanche awareness; SAC forecasts are mandatory. Summer approach is less technical but wind remains strong and weather can change abruptly. Experienced visitors plan morning-only travel to avoid afternoon wind, time their approach to stable snowpack windows, and carry communication devices due to poor cell coverage. Parking is minimal and roadside; the nearest developed facilities are 15+ miles away in Lee Vining or Yosemite. No water, shelter, or services exist at the pass itself.
Nearby alternatives include Tioga Pass (11,056 feet, 8 miles south), which is lower-wind and better protected, and Mono Pass (10,600 feet, northwest), which offers a more gradual approach. Both lie within the same Yosemite corridor and experience similar seasonal closures. For those seeking less-exposed high-country crossings, Kearsarge Pass (11,823 feet, 50+ miles south) and Muir Pass (11,955 feet, 80+ miles north) provide comparable alpine transit with different access patterns. Post Peak Pass is best viewed as part of a larger Sierra traversal system rather than a destination in isolation.