O’Hara alpine conditions

Went for Cathedral but bailed before final summit push due to viz and time - came down Vamguard glacier. Good overall skiing conditions - but the alpine was bullet proof before the recent snow. You’ll want an axe for the bootpack - and ideally lightweight crampons although doable without. Ski crampons a must - bud forgot his and he suffered on the traverse to get to the glacier. Had at least 10-15+cm of new snow on top of the prior interface - very low density so slid easily on steep aspects. Mod gusts above 2600m. Descent into Vanguard (S aspect) was very icy underneath but had between 30-40cm of fist pow on top- was sluffing but wasn’t fast and didn’t have much mass. Didn’t notice any gaping holes / cracks on Vanguard. Exit gulley from the glacier was nicely filled in. Pretty bare bones across valley towards ascent routes for Collier / N Vic.