Day Hike - Yellow Aster Butte

Let's go for an alpine adventure! We'll follow the Yellow Aster Butte trail through ever expanding views, cool rocks, and wildflowers. Before descending to the tarns, we will take a short spur trail to point 6,178. We will not be scrambling to YAB proper. After exploring the tarns, we will follow the climber's path toward Tomyhoi Peak. This gains a beautiful broad ridge with vernal meadows and abundant flowers. With good weather, we will have big views of Mount Larrabee, American and Canadian Border Peaks, Mount Baker, Shuksan, and lots of others! We'll return to the tarns and find the Keep Kool boot path. Folks who want to take a spur trail to Keep Kool Butte can do that while others relax by the tarns. From there, it's 2.6 miles and 2,500' through the forest down to the cars.

Our day will include standard trail, a climber's path, and a decommissioned (but regularly used) trail. Please be comfortable travelling on a couple of sections with steep tread (though nothing exposed), perhaps navigating a few blowdowns, and patches of snow around the tarns. We will take ample time to enjoy the day. Expect to be on the trail for 8-9 hours. 

Here is a link to the route: https://www.gaiagps.com/map/?loc=12.6/-121.6312/48.9203&pubLink=jrO9IT15vtHgctaUzo190X9E&trackId=cf31b562-6779-4d0e-b3d4-a03f7547629d

We will meet at the Shuksan Picnic Area, which is on the North Fork Nooksack River immediately after the Hannegan Pass Road turnoff from the Mount Baker Hwy. We will organize and consolidate cars here.

Please be there at 8:30 am ready to go. https://maps.app.goo.gl/Dp8FyYreM2TfvPhi6

We will then drive to the decommissioned Keep Kool Butte trail and leave vehicles for when we finish our day.  https://maps.app.goo.gl/rn1dNdbdEyk3bcM2A

Everyone will then go  2 miles further up the road to the Yellow Aster Butte trailhead. This section of road has a couple of areas that cross rocky washouts that are more comfortably navigated with a high clearance vehicle. I will have one. It will be helpful to have at least 2 more with us. When you register, please email me if you will be driving a high clearance vehicle.

Northwest Forest Pass or America the Beautiful Pass required. Privy available at the Shuksan Picnic Area and at the Yellow Aster Butte Trailhead.