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Reconnaissance <br /> R Squared's geotechnical reconnaissance consisting of reviewing documents, performing a walk <br /> over of the road, and logging three test pits in the road. Documents reviewed include the May <br /> 26`h report, as built drawings, and a CDRMS memorandum from Wally Erickson to Allen <br /> Sorenson, dated May 17, 2010, entitled "Idaho Mine Access Road, Wildcat Mining Corporation, <br /> File No. M-2010-003". <br /> The test pits were excavated by a backhoe operated by Mr. Mossa at R2's direction at the <br /> approximate locations shown in Figure 1. Test Pit#1 was located where the unsupported <br /> outboard slope was highest and steepest; Test Pit#2 is in the middle of the outboard retaining <br /> wall, approximately midway between two leaning vertical supporting logs; and Test Pit#3 is in <br /> the cut-fill transition area uphill of the drainage crossing. Our engineer logged the materials <br /> exposed in the test pits and collected bulk samples of these materials on which physical <br /> properties tests were performed. Conditions encountered in our test pits are summarized in <br /> Table 1. Bulk samples obtained from the test pits were placed in plastic 5-gallon buckets, <br /> covered with plastic lids, and transported to Terracon Laboratory in Farmington, New Mexico. <br /> Attempts were made to obtain undisturbed samples; however, the loose condition of the fill <br /> and/or the presence of cobble-sized materials hampered these efforts. Laboratory tests <br /> performed on the samples include, grain size distribution, Atterberg limits, and moisture content. <br /> Materials exposed in the test pits are described in Table 1. Laboratory test results are <br /> summarized in Table 2; test results received from the laboratory are provided in Appendix A. <br /> Observations <br /> Road <br /> The road is approximately 500 feet long and, for purposes of discussion, has been divided it into <br /> three sections: (1) the upper portion extending through a through-cut, (2) a cut-fill condition in <br /> the middle, and (3) a fill embankment crossing a drainage and the bottom, with the fill thickness <br /> grading to essentially nil as the roadway transitions to level ground. The river generally parallels <br /> the cut-fill portion of the road; the toe of the hillside slope, outboard of the cut-fill road section, <br /> is at or near the creek shoreline. The through cut section extends through colluvium/glacial till. <br /> As the road transitions to the cut-fill portion, hard rock is exposed in steep cutslopes. In many <br /> areas roadway slopes are greater than 15 percent. A shallow landslide was observed above the <br /> cutslope near the transition from through-cut to cut-fill road sections, the colluvium/glacial till <br /> contact with bedrock exposed in the cutslope. Cracks up to 1 inch wide were observed on the <br /> road surface exiting from the uphill side of the upstream drainage retaining wall diagonally <br /> toward the outboard slope then paralleling it for at least 30 feet. No seepage conditions were <br /> observed in either cut or fill slopes despite the fact that spring snowmelt and runoff was near its <br /> peak during the reconnaissance. The hillside slope outboard of the cut-fill road section is <br /> covered with loose soil, rock, and debris. A damaged silt fence parallels the river bank at the <br /> bottom of the hillside slope. Retaining walls parallel the road along a portion of the hillside <br /> May 30, 2010 <br />