The Dragtooth
Peak · 12,124 ft · Yosemite corridor
The Dragtooth is a 12,124-foot peak in the Yosemite corridor of California's Sierra Nevada, sitting in avalanche terrain on the high-elevation spine between the Mono Basin and Yosemite Valley.
Expect sustained wind averaging 15 mph with gusts to 42 mph; afternoon strengthening is typical. Temperature swings 7 degrees to 34 degrees across the year; spring brings wet-slab hazard. Approach early, before 10 a.m., to catch calmer air and better visibility.
Over the last 30 days, The Dragtooth averaged a NoGo Score of 34 with wind at 15 mph and crowding light at 3.0. The week ahead tracks typical spring patterns: watch for afternoon wind ramps and lingering snowpack instability as temperatures climb. Conditions rarely drop below marginal; plan around wind and avalanche risk rather than waiting for ideal days.
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About The Dragtooth
The Dragtooth crowns the high divide between Mono County and Tuolumne County, northeast of Yosemite Valley. Access requires a high-clearance vehicle to the trailhead near Highway 120 on the eastern approach, or a long approach from Tenaya Lake. Most climbers start before dawn and summit in 5 to 7 hours; the peak sits in designated avalanche terrain managed by the Sierra Avalanche Center. Winter and spring require up-to-date avalanche forecasts and slab-awareness; snowpack persists until late June in most years.
Spring conditions (late April through May) bring the steepest hazard curve. Daytime temperatures average 21 degrees Fahrenheit; wet-slab instability peaks as solar input increases. Wind averages 15 mph with gusts routinely hitting 35 to 42 mph by midday. Crowding stays minimal, typically 3 visitors per day, because approach complexity and avalanche terrain filter out casual hikers. Summer (late June onward) sheds snow and avalanche risk but introduces afternoon thunderstorm exposure and higher foot traffic.
The Dragtooth suits experienced peak baggers and mountaineers comfortable with exposed terrain, route finding, and avalanche assessment. Plan a pre-dawn start to avoid afternoon wind and thermal convection. Bring an avalanche beacon, probe, and shovel through June; consult the Sierra Avalanche Center forecast before committing. Parking at the eastern trailhead fills by 7 a.m. on weekends; midweek offers more solitude and better snow conditions for safe descent.
Nearby summits include Peak 11,950 to the south and Tenaya Peak to the northwest; all three occupy the same ridge system and share similar wind exposure and avalanche hazard. The Dragtooth's isolation and low base popularity (0.2 rating) mean fewer rescue resources and longer response times. Solo climbing is not recommended. Cell coverage is unreliable above 11,500 feet.