Yellow Aster Butte: my new fave.

Hike Name: Yellow Aster Butte
Round-Trip Distance: 7.5 miles
Elevation Gain: 2550
Season: July - Mid Oct
Difficulty: easy - moderate
Forest: Mt Baker Snoqualmie
Contact: Glacier Public Service Center (360) 856-5700
Map: Green Trails- Mt Shuksan # 14
Directions: Take 542 East from Bellingham, 34 miles to Glacier Public Service Center. Continue east 13 more miles, then turn left on FS road 3065 aka "Twin Lakes Road." (This actually takes off from tbe Dept of Transportation's Garage parking lot, be on the lookout.) Bear left at an unmarked junction, then continue 4.5 miles to trailhead.
** TAKE BUT JUICE ** BITING BLACK FLIES THROUGHOUT.
-- Streams run near the top, and you can pump water there.

Wow.

I think I've mentioned how I've been trying to stay "closer to home" these last few months, exploring the Mountain Loop Highway along with Highway 2. Which has been quite fun and rewarding, and has meant minimal drive time (which is nice when you only have one day to hike.)

However.

In the back of my mind lingered thoughts of "the big peaks." I kept checking trail reports. "Snow." "Ice." "Road inaccessible except to 4-wheel drive."

But this time, Kim was looking through my books for ideas, and she said, "how about Yellow Aster Butte? Is that open?"

I checked the forest service website for Hwy 542 out of Bellingham, only to discover that Yellow Aster Butte was open!! Small patches of snow remained near the top, but it was hikable!

Hwy 542 has always been magic to me... it is my "Avenue of the Giants," with trails leading to jaw-dropping views of the big peaks - Shuksan, Baker, Whatcom, Challenger, Bacon, etc...

And I had kind of forgotten how spectacular this area really is, and why, in years past, I have not hesitated to spend the 3+ hours driving each way to get there.

Yellow Aster Butte is simply a divine hike. The first 1.5 miles climbs quickly and you will sweat, but at about 2 miles you break in to sunny hillsides, thick with wildflowers, and your views of Baker & Shuksan start to open up. My excitement level rose so much that I had to stop and catch my breath simply because I was hyperventilating out of sheer delight. Tears came to my eyes. Views expanded, and expanded, and expanded. After rambling around in gentle hillsides, meadows, and snowfields, we broke up to a "shelf" area, just below the Aster Butte Summit, which made a beautiful lunch spot. Looking down to the east, there were gorgeous rambling meadows strewn with sparkling tarns that have recently melted out. Jewels sparkling in the sun. Tiny trails, "conversation trails" as my ex used to call them, just beckoning to be explored. We regretted not lugging our overnight gear up here, even though thunderstorms were predicted. Next time, we vowed.

After finishing lunch, we decided to make the final push to the top of the Butte, which is steep but quite manageable and relatively short distance. And WOW do the views expand!!! Just when we thought we couldn't be any more amazed, we found ourselves stunned. Expansive views opened 360 degrees, and I took about a hundred pictures, speechless.

If you're looking for wildflowers, this is the hike. If you're looking for views, this is the hike. If you're looking for sweet places to camp (near the tarns), this is the hike. If you want exercise but don't want to break your butt, this is the hike. Recommended beyond all belief - try to go on a clear day, so that you can see the views.

I know I'll be up there a few more times this season, checking out the color changes and soon-to-be huckleberries. Wow.