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NNMAE Snow Pack Report

SF Ski area

Submitted by: Bob

Location: Near Benny's
Date: Dec 14, 2009 Temp (C): -8C
Wind Speed: 10 Wind Direction: N

Dug a pit in the ski area at about 11,300 ft between Benny's Cliff and lower First Tracks.

Snow depth: 41 cm

22-41 cm dry decomposing and fragmented particles, fist resistance
18-22 cm - dry dry solid faceted crystals, sugary, 1-2 mm, fist resistance
16-18 cm - dry solid faceted crystals, 5 mm, fist resistance
15-16 cm - dry ice masses & 5-7 mm crystals, pencil resistance
0-15 cm - dry solid faceted crystals, sugary, 2-3 mm, fist resistance

Shear test - easy, q3 bed at 22 cm
Compression test - 20, collapse at 15 cm

Not exactly quality stuff. I hit a number of rocks skiing down First Tracks, and skinning up through the trees was kind of a wallow. Most stuff in the open was pretty well consolidated but I didn't dig there.