Keepin’ it <25 deg on Leach Ridge

Great afternoon out on Leach Ridge in cold dry fast pow (foot penetration 35cm, ski pen 25cm). No new avalanches observed, but almost continual loud and scarey whumphing on the way up on skis. Very happy to have been in low low angle terrain. Mostly clear sky and great sunshine, with a cold light south breeze keeping the surface dry. High of -8 at ridgetop at 2200m Dug one hasty pit at the top. HS (snow depth to ground) 180cm. Easy sudden planar test results on a significant weak layer of SH (surface hoar) down 38cm under the recent storm snow. Late-January persistant weak layer down 80cm in this spot (no test result on that in this precise spot). SH and near-surface faceting developing on the surface making for great fast skiing, but another future weak layer when covered.