SummitPost.org

Peru had been in possible plans for this year but I've been watching the El Nino observations for the last few months, given the bad weather that Peru and Bolivia get with El Ninos. The forecasts have been predicting an El Nino for months now, with gradually greater certainty, but it seems now even more so.

"...The feared El Nino weather pattern will likely hit Peru with a "weak to moderate" intensity starting in April."
http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/03/ ... 1C20140319

http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/a ... ndex.shtml

"El Niños tend to spawn unusually heavy rains and flooding in Peru’s northern regions, while causing droughts in the southern highlands."
http://gain.fas.usda.gov/Recent%20GAIN% ... ns/El%20Niño%20Watch_Lima_Peru_3-28-2014.pdf

http://www.wunderground.com/blog/JeffMa ... ng-in-2014

December through February was very dry in Southern Peru and there is already a drought, but it has been raining and snowing heavily on and off for the past few weeks in the mountains around Arequipa and Chivay at least.

Here's a interesting website regarding climbing and weather/snow conditions for Bolivia and the folks I spoke with have been friendly and helpful.

http://www.boliviaclimbinginfo.org/conditions-and-news/

Great picture

I saw some pictures from Artesonraju that were taken a couple of weeks ago, let's say close to the end of what is traditionally called the wet season. It was a surprise to see that the mountain was completely melting! The classic route was just bare rock up to the middle of the southeast face. Some snow recovery would be wellcome. But a normal season with steady weather and good overall conditions? Nope, never seen this on the previous 4 occasions.