Wind scoured, melt/freeze, and surface facets on Andesite Ridge.

We encounted the expected mix of conditions this morning on Andesite Ridge. E aspects were wind scoured. S aspects held supportable "corn like" melt/freeze conditions. Wind and sun protected areas at and below treeline held cold soft surface facets. As in many other areas, the snowpack above 7,300' around Donner Summit is shallow but supportable. While numerous rocks, logs, etc exist they are generally easy to avoid with a little care.

The recent period of gale force E winds Nov 25-26 scoured the snow surface at and above treeline on NE-E-SE aspects. Sastrugi on the snow surface is widespread, but we saw no areas that had been scoured to bare ground along Andesite Ridge. Ridgetop wind pillows and micro cornices were seen along the ridgetop above W aspects.

The overall snow crystal metamorphism appears to have shifted from post storm rounding to faceting under stable weather and long clear nights. Faceting is most prominent near the snow surface, but is present at all heights within the snowpack.