Monday's hike choice was Yellow Aster Butte. I'd hiked it twice before but never reaching the top.
Those times were each with Senior Trailblazers.
I had told my husband of my desire to get to the top (the south summit) and he said we would get there.
We left early in the morning to fog at our house so we really didn't know if we'd get the sunny day that was forecast.
The 5 mile road to the trailhead had many potholes so we were rocking and rolling all the way up.
Fingers crossed and with my nerves and hopes in a heightened state I began the journey up the trail.
My husband and Scoutina at the trail register.
Views were beginning to appear as we made our way up in the open.
Yay, the sunny skies that were forecast came true.
Mushrooms were plentiful along the trail again on this hike.
Scoutina enjoying a flatter section of the trail.
After hiking in the forest section we came out into the open.
A bit of fall color was making an appearance on the bushes.
A view of our destination in the distance
This was the only snow patch along our route, much different than the 2014 & 2015 trips
More fall color
A view of Shuksan and Mt. Baker
After passing the saddle where we had stopped on the 2014 journey we rounded the corner and I spotted these two Marmots lounging on a rock below us. *A zoomed in photo.
The next section was all new to me, not only because it was a clear day with views but in our 2015 journey we turned around before reaching the top.
Views of Mt. Baker, Keep Kool butte and the Tomyhoi tarns.
Our family has been to the tarns and Tomyhoi peak on a few different hikes way back in our hiking past. In those days the route was by way of the Keep Kool trail there was no Yellow Aster butte trail. I haven't been to the top of Tomyhoi, I only went to the saddle before the summit. My husband has been to the top several times. We've camped the tarns. So it was nice to look down into that area once again.
Looking in the distance at Tomyhoi peak.
First view of the Border peaks. U.S. on the right with the reddish area and the Canadian border peak on the left.
Now the trail goes up in earnest.
It was a grind for the last tenth of a mile or so up to the top but well worth the effort.
Scoutina enjoying the views from the top of the South Summit.
360 video view from the top
We were the only ones at the top for quite awhile, so plenty of time to soak it all in without interruption.
The true summit of Yellow Aster butte in the distance between the Border peaks in the photo below. I didn't feel the need to go to the highest summit, the rounded part of the South summit was a perfect ending place.
Heading back down the trail I noticed the other side of a rock we had walked beside.
In on the photo below you'll see my husband and Scoutina patiently waiting for me to make my way down from the top.
A closer look
I liked how relaxed Scoutina was as they waited.
Enjoying fall colors and Shuksan
Very few flowers were out, just some purple Aster and some very short Paintbrush.
More fall color
A last look at where we'd been.
We heard many Marmots as we made our way back down the trail. I took a recording of their calls.
You can listen to the audio file HERE.
As we hiked we talked with some Forest Service workers. While we had been hiking they had dug a new support hole for the trail junction sign. This is the same signpost as the one in the photo in the beginning of this blogpost, just more sun and taken from a different angle.
Heart rocks along the trail
Our last view of Mt. Baker from the trail as we made our way towards the trailhead. The evening's shadows were beginning to spread as the sun was lowering in the west.
A memory photo from years ago I decided to include, this is from a trip my husband did years ago to Yellow Aster butte with some friends and our Malamute "Lexis"💓
Trail rating: Hard
Total miles hiked: 8.8
Total ascent: 2628
*we've seen distances anywhere from 7 - 81/2 miles for this hike on various trip planning websites depending on your final destination.
Hiking to the top of the south summit of Yellow Aster Butte was everything I had hoped for:
that top of the world feeling
views forever
knowing that I gave it all I had to get there
This hike was one of my Summer bucket list hikes. It meant so much to me to get to the top. It's one of the harder hikes I've done in awhile
I finally did it!
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