Rickey Peak
Peak · 10,124 ft · Yosemite corridor
Rickey Peak rises to 10,124 feet in the Yosemite corridor of California's Sierra Nevada. This exposed alpine summit sits well above tree line and catches afternoon wind funneling across the high country.
Wind dominates the experience. The 30-day average wind of 14 mph masks sharper afternoon gusts; mornings are calmer but brief. Exposure is total. Temperature swings 35 degrees across the year. Crowds stay low due to remoteness and technical approach.
Over the last 30 days, Rickey Peak has averaged a NoGo Score of 32.0 with winds holding to 14 mph on average but spiking as high as 37 mph. Temperature has averaged 34 degrees Fahrenheit. The week ahead will show whether the typical spring wind pattern holds or if a system shifts conditions. Check the chart below to track the 30-day trend and 7-day forecast.
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About Rickey Peak
Rickey Peak sits at 10,124 feet on the eastern flank of the Yosemite high country, roughly halfway between Highway 120's Tioga Pass corridor and the Mono Basin. Access is not straightforward; the peak lies beyond marked trails and requires scrambling through talus and snow-filled couloirs depending on season. Approach typically funnels hikers through the Tioga Pass area or from the east via Mono County routes. The peak's low base popularity (0.2) reflects its isolation and technical scrambling required to summit; it is not a casual day hike. Elevation gain and exposure reward only climbers comfortable with steep terrain and navigation off-trail.
Conditions on Rickey Peak reflect high-Sierra winter-spring patterns even into late spring. The 30-day average temperature of 34 degrees Fahrenheit is brutal; overnight lows can drop below 15 degrees through April and May. Wind averages 14 mph but the 30-day maximum of 37 mph is the real story; afternoon gusts funnel down the eastern slope and across the Mono Basin drainage, making summit weather highly time-sensitive. Crowding averages only 3 on a 10-point scale, meaning solitude is the default. Snowpack lingers into late spring; couloirs and north-facing slopes hold snow well past the valleys. Late September offers the most benign conditions, with warmer days and lower wind, but the window closes fast.
Rickey Peak draws mountaineers and peak-baggers willing to navigate avalanche terrain and scrambling. The peak sits in SAC (Sierra Avalanche Center) territory; winter and spring approaches demand slab avalanche awareness, especially after heavy snow or rapid warming. Most summit attempts happen in late summer and early fall when snow clears and wind moderates. Experienced scramblers will encounter loose rock and steep drop-offs; this is not beginner terrain. Parking is rough and access roads may be snow-locked well into spring depending on Highway 120 opening. No facilities, no water, no marked trail. Carry a map, know how to navigate terrain, and plan for instant weather changes.
Nearby peaks like Mount Dana (13,053 feet, slightly north) and Mono Basin viewpoints offer lower-stress alternatives if Rickey Peak conditions spike. The Tioga Pass corridor gives access to both Rickey Peak and a string of high-country day hikes; timing your trip around the 30-day wind average and checking avalanche advisories before departure is essential. Unlike the crowded Whitney portal or Yosemite Valley, Rickey Peak remains quiet precisely because the approach and exposure filter out casual visitors. That remoteness is the draw for mountaineers seeking solitude in genuine alpine terrain.