Ah, Spring Break. I remember when I got to observe that wonderful week. Not any more. Now I have to hold my breath and bear down for the long haul between President's Day and Memorial Day.
Gil, being in school, got a semi-spring break, since he was still working. He had all of Tuesday off, I needed a third person, a volunteer agreement was signed, and Gil tagged along to complete snow surveys with me.
Each winter, over 100 locations all along the Sierra are measured for the height of snow on the ground and the water content in that snow. This water will be pretty much the only water the state can rely on to get us through summer until it starts to rain/snow again in the fall. On my district, we have two sampling sites.
Gil hauling the pole at Echo Summit
My coworker Steve, a hydrologist, as we try to find the other survey transect at Lake Audrain.
Gil with the pole and the measuring tape, measuring out 50 ft. from the previous sample site.
Shoving the pole in the snow. We averaged about 5 1/2 feet. Not too shabby.
Using a specially calibrated scale to weigh the tube with the snow core still in it. We subtract the weight of the empty tube and are able to get the water content of the snow. (It's a special scale.)
A long tube!
I was thrilled to be able to share the snow survey experience with Gil and he was an excellent sampler, getting the tube all the way down to the dirt!
