West of Big Blue

Sastrugi fest and wind-hammered on all aspects. The wind crust was very hard and even icy in spots, making touring easy in mellow sections and the ascent relatively sketchy on steep slopes (edge barely cutting in snow surface). Couteaux (a.k.a. ski-crampons) highly recommended (and glacier gear for this area in general). Only heard a couple very mellow whumpfs in softer sections. Although a few sections sounded a bit hollow, the ensemble felt stable. We stayed away from convex slopes and on the margins of the glacier. Crust was supportive for the descent, breakable only in a few spots with softer snow. Riding conditions were between bad and fair, but ok enough to make a few decent turns (thigh burner turns nonetheless) and sastrugis were small enough not to become dangerous.