I am thinking of Ashlu - Elaho traverse over the long weekend and wondering if there will be enough snow to make it good. ie will the alders be managable and the crevasses not too scary. I am also looking for people who would be keen to do it. There are a lot of nice peaks along the way. :)

Hey Ben,

We were on Elaho Main 2 weekends ago, stopped at  Branch E 300 junction and had our skis on. I'm not sure about Ashlu side.  I remember the road was heavily overgrown with slide-alder in summer all the way to Shortcut Creek. 

http://deanperezbc.blogspot.ca/2014/01/blanca-peak-via-elaho-main-january-18.html

This is a nice traverse and I'm very interested. Are you planning to do Limelight-Ponor-Crerar-Ashlu-Porterhouse-Icecap-Pykett?

We did the Neve traverse together with Tim and Gili few years ago.

Dean,

I guess my original plan was to come in and out the Ashlu side but having said that it seems that road is very overgrown so I guess coming up the Elaho side is the way to go. All the peaks you mention would be ones that I would have on the potential list. I really would like to do Ashlu and it seems that a number of the other peaks are almost mandatory assuming the weather is nice.

Never been on Ashlu Main in wiinter so I don't know what's the alder condition.  I read Paul K  trip report on Bivouac, he started on Elaho via Limelight creek and exited on Pykett Creek off Ashlu.

Few pictures of my trip to Ashlu and Porterhouse

http://deanperezbc.blogspot.ca/2012/08/ashlu-mountain-and-porterhouse-peak.html

North face of Porterhouse

Ashlu Mountain via East Ridge

Upper Glacier of Porterhouse

Ashlu from Porterhouse Summit

Imicus and Icecap glacier- view from Porterhouse

Lower Glacier of Porterhouse

Ben,

The approach from the Elaho side might be very bushy.  I don't know about Limelight cr. but Caroll cr. is really bushy (we checked it out in September). I plan to do this trip in the spring, if there is enough snow.  nice area!

Approach via Limelight is looking pretty gnarly this winter.

Photo below was taken January 18th, 2014. Limelight Creek is hidden by the foreground ridge. Ashlu Mountain is far right. Porterhouse is background centre. The route we took went up the cliff band in center to the glacier. It will be all roped skiing this year.

Ashlu Mountain far right.