Quick report
As part of The Confluence Project CDA Highschool had approximately 60 students out in the field in groups of four to dig snow pits and assess snow water equivalent (SWE) as the objective. This observation is from the control pit. The control pit location was at 4700' elevation at lookout pass on a 101° eastern aspect at a 22° slope. The pits were dug in easy gladed terrain with minimal open slopes. The observations were made between 10:00am-11:00am. The weather was overcast with light snow (s2). No stability tests were completed. All pits were dug to ground surface. The control pit total depth was 177cm and average total snow depths were around 175cm for most pits. However, several pit locations in more wind loaded terrain had total snow depths approaching 210cm. 2 visually distinct melt form crusts were immediately observable prior to hardness testing TOP OF SNOW Layer 1: 0-8.5cm F density @ 18.5g/100cc temp at 29°F Precipitation particle; stellars and dendrites Layer 2: 8.5-22cm 4F- density @ 16.3g/100cc temp at 29°F Decomposing Fragments Layer 3: 22-41cm 4F density @ 20g/100cc temp at 29°F Rounds Layer 4: 41-53.5cm 1F density @ 23g/100cc temp at 29.3 Rounds Layer 5: 53.5-64cm 1F density @ 23.2g/100cc temp at 29.7 Meltform: melt freeze crust (icy) Layer 6: 64-112cm aggrading hardness from 4F to 1F+ density @ 34.3 g/100cc temp at 30°F rounds Layer 7: 112-119cm P- density @ 32g/100cc temp at 30.1°F Melt form crust Layer 8: 119-131cm P density @ 30.2g/100cc temp at 30.2°F rounds Layer 9: 131-137.5cm P- density @ 34.9g/100g temp at 31.5°F rounds Layer 10: 137.5-177cm P density @ 46.2/100cc temp at 30.°F rounds SNOW PIT BOTTOM.