Sue Pass
Peak · 10,300 ft · Yosemite corridor
Sue Pass sits at 10,300 feet in the Yosemite corridor, a high Sierra crossing exposed to afternoon wind and late-season snow. A staging point for backcountry skiers and peak baggers.
Wind picks up by early afternoon as thermal circulation builds across the exposed ridgeline. Morning hours are calmer, often benign for travel. Expect rapidly changing snow conditions through spring; avalanche terrain demands caution on steep slopes above and below the pass.
Over the last 30 days, Sue Pass averaged 9 mph wind with afternoon gusts reaching 30 mph, and temperatures hovering at 27 degrees Fahrenheit. The average NoGo Score sits at 34, meaning most days are passable but not ideal. Watch the week ahead for temperature and wind spikes that signal consolidating snow or unstable slab potential.
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About Sue Pass
Sue Pass lies on the crest of the Sierra Nevada at 10,300 feet, straddling the Yosemite backcountry corridor between the Mono Basin and the High Sierra peaks. Access routes typically approach from the east via Highway 395 and the Mono County gateway, or from the west through Highway 120 and the Tuolumne Meadows area. The pass itself sits on a network of ski touring and climbing routes; it is not a formal trailhead but rather a benchmark on established Sierra crossing traverses. Spring and early summer are the primary windows for ski touring and mountaineering approaches.
Sue Pass experiences the classic Sierra wind regime: calm or light until mid-morning, then building thermal and pressure-gradient winds by afternoon. The 30-day average wind speed is 9 mph, but afternoon thermals routinely push gusts to 30 mph or higher on the exposed ridgeline. Temperature averages 27 degrees Fahrenheit over the last month, typical of high-elevation spring conditions where snowpack remains substantial. Wind is the dominant constraint for stable travel in the morning window; afternoon wind can create sastrugi, cornices, and spindrift that slow descent and obscure terrain.
Sue Pass is best suited for experienced backcountry skiers, mountaineers, and off-trail peak baggers with solid avalanche knowledge. The pass sits within avalanche terrain; steep slopes on both the north and south aspects present slab hazard, especially during or shortly after wind events or rapid warming. Crowding remains minimal (3.0 average over the last 30 days), a reflection of the high barrier to entry and remote location. Plan for a full day of approach and descent; carry avalanche rescue gear and check the Sierra Avalanche Center forecast before any spring ascent. Late snow and exposed ridges mean crampons and ice axes are standard kit through early summer.
Nearby alternatives include the peaks and passes of the Mono Basin climbing corridor to the east, and the Tuolumne Meadows high country to the west. Sue Pass is often paired with traverses of the San Francisco and Stevenson peaks in multi-day ski touring or climbing objectives. Conditions on the pass tend to mirror those of nearby Tioga Pass and Mono Pass; all three sit in the same pressure and thermal systems, though Sue Pass is slightly lower and less exposed to the fiercest wind events. For climbers seeking a less technical but similarly high-elevation Sierra crossing, Kearsarge Pass (9,600 feet) offers a lower-altitude alternative with similar access patterns.