STS skiing firm

Skied STS today. Snow surface in the couloir was firm and crusty but mostly smooth. Made for poor skiing but we didn't have to worry too much about stability. Where new snow had managed to adhere it was a thin and very stiff wind slab that was not reactive to skiing or a small cornice drop. Wind affect was pervasive on Cheops and even in isolated locations in the Connaught valley. Looking across at south aspects wind affected snow was also visible in the alpine but sheltered areas like 8812 bowl looked in better condition. We rappeled off a fresh looking piece of red tat we saw around a boulder downhill of the lower entrance. A 30m rope just reached on a double strand rappel. This deposited us on the ridge separating STS and North #5, and we had to do a short and easy but exposed traverse to get into the couloir.