Quick report
Last night's refreeze on Andesite Peak was variable at best. Some areas had a more-supportable, longer-lasting refreeze this morning, but most places (especially E aspects) started getting deep and mushy as soon as they started to get sun. This variability made travel insteresting since you could go from sliding on top of the snow one minute to sinking up to your ankles into wet sloppy snow the next. During our descent at 10:30 am, we triggered a few small roller balls on steep E-facing slopes. We also had to detour around exposed rocks and moats. Some of the snow bridges we used during our ascent had gotten too soft or were newly collapsed on our way down as well.
Like other areas snow melt has accelerated in this area and many more rocks, trees, and areas of dirt have appeared in the last week. N-NE-E aspects still hold enough snow for mostly continuous snow travel, but the SE-S-SW aspects are now mostly dirt.
Weather
- Cloud Cover
- clear
Today's weather was sunny and hot on Andesite Peak with colder temperatures in the valleys this morning due to cold air settling into low lying areas during the night (temperature inversion). By midday most of the inversions had lifted in this area.