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Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver



Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics
Location: Welcome Pass
Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver
PostSun Jul 16, 2006 11:02 pm 
Azure blue - cloudless - sun warming the forest. Ahh, waking up to a crisp morning at the Hannegan trail head. The overnight just on the fringe of the parking area hadn't been all that bad. Most folks called it quits by 10:00 p.m. on Saturday night and all was quiet - even our (too) nearby neighbors who had decided to set up camp right on top of us! However, the two-dog night proved to be quite cozy and quiet. Clover and Sadie were pooped puppies after their Hannegan Peak adventure. But this glorious morn, they were ready to go again. We assembled ourselves, had some breakfast, cleaned up and broke camp by about 8:15 a.m. It was still a little chilly - because the sun wasn't quite shining through to our camping area. None-the-less, we changed into to warm-weather hiking stuff and loaded up the cars and headed towards the Twin Lakes road - only about 7 miles away. That's a nice little road - in better condition than I expected, given past reports. There is one dicey area, however, about 5 miles in that you have to pay attention - no room for error (or another car coming from the other direction) - it's a steep, one-bounce drop down the side! Once passed that, we got to the trailhead for Yellow Aster Butte and Tomyhoi Lake (the road continues on to the Twin Lakes trailhead) - there already were at least 25 cars parked along the side of the road. We picked a spot and unloaded about 30' down the road from the trailhead. (There's even a relatively new, maintained biffy at the trailhead). We signed ourselves in for the day-trip and up we headed.
Trailhead for Yellow Aster Butte
Trailhead for Yellow Aster Butte
Make no mistake, this trail gets serious quickly. It's steep - much steeper than our trail started yesterday for Hannegan.
Heading up the trail to Yellow Aster Butte
Heading up the trail to Yellow Aster Butte
Sadie and Clover were ready - bounding up the trail and running back to see what was taking us so long.
Action photo on the trail
Action photo on the trail
You are in forest for about a 1/4 mile, then you break out into some switchbacks up a clear cut area for another 1/2 mile and then back into the forest (most welcome later in the afternoon when it got nice and toasty).
Trail through the woods
Trail through the woods
We could get peek-a-boo views of Mt. Baker and Mt. Shuksan as we meandered up the hillside.
Some big, pointy thing to our south - rather striking with the gorgeous blue sky, eh?
Some big, pointy thing to our south - rather striking with the gorgeous blue sky, eh?
We switch-backed our way up through the forest and at this lovely little meadow, ran into some snow on the trail - not much - but enough for the dogs to cool their toes and Clove to do her "penguin on the belly" imitation.
Clover chillin' again
Clover chillin' again
There's a good supply of water right now, so that wasn't a problem for the dogs. We continued on to the intersection of the Yellow Aster Butte YAB) trail and the Tomyhoi Lake trail.
Trail sign at intersection
Trail sign at intersection
Intersection - right to Tomyhoi Lake and left to Yellow Aster
Intersection - right to Tomyhoi Lake and left to Yellow Aster
It seemed more than the 2 miles reported in the trail books. We headed left on the YAB trail - and followed a welcome traverse that was a little less grueling than the previous few miles. Got a nice view of the Butte from here.
Our destination today - Yellow Aster Butte (true summit isn't visible yet)
Our destination today - Yellow Aster Butte (true summit isn't visible yet)
Today, this would be yellow aster on the YAB trail!
Today, this would be yellow aster on the YAB trail!
As we traversed around, we could see across the creek valley to the intersection where we split from the trail.
A view from the YAB trail towards trail intersection - across the valley
A view from the YAB trail towards trail intersection - across the valley
Hiker Jim and Trail Pair Bob on the trail towards YAB
Hiker Jim and Trail Pair Bob on the trail towards YAB
We came to a nice little rest area were there was a lovely creek and views off to the east/southeast
Looking east down this little creek about mid-way up the YAB trail
Looking east down this little creek about mid-way up the YAB trail
- we could look west and see up to YAB and folks up above - but later we would learn that this wasn't the true summit.
Zoom shot of folks up on the Butte (not the true summit)
Zoom shot of folks up on the Butte (not the true summit)
We ran into some more snow and the trail started up again
There's still some snow left on the trail as Kolleen heads up the slope into azure blue skies
There's still some snow left on the trail as Kolleen heads up the slope into azure blue skies
- this time, we swung south and then headed west around the the lower part of YAB. This was stunning - views to Mt. Baker and Shuksan
Yellow Aster Butte 056
Yellow Aster Butte 056
and as we moved further west - we could see the semi-melted out tarns in YAB meadow. You also get a great view of Tomyhoi and the trail from the tarns to Tomyhoi.
Nice little moon shot to the west from YAB trail
Nice little moon shot to the west from YAB trail
The trail is in great shape and easy to follow.
Heading up the YAB trail with lots and lots of flowers
Heading up the YAB trail with lots and lots of flowers
We could look west/southwest towards Welcome Pass where Trail Pair, Hiker Jim, Sadie and I were earlier this year - it looked so different without all the snow on it.
Looking south towards Baker from the trail
Looking south towards Baker from the trail
We came to another junction - where you can drop down to YAB meadows and the Tomyhoi trail - or, turn right and head up (and I do mean UP!) the trail to YAB. Hiker Jim, Clover, Sadie and I headed up while Trail Pair grabbed a bite to eat.
Trail Pair heading up the steepest part of the trail - a lot like Mailbox!
Trail Pair heading up the steepest part of the trail - a lot like Mailbox!
We got to the top of this trail, thinking we were on the summit of YAB - - - - but, oh now, that was still about 1/2 mile to the north. You have to drop down (a little snow here, but nothing daunting) and then cross a ridge and head up what appears to be a very narrow knob.
Yellow Aster Butte 049
Yellow Aster Butte 049
As it turns out, there is plenty of room on this true summit (a hundred feet or so higher than the first bump. All four of us and two dogs made it just fine up this last scramble - there was another group of 4 with a dog also there.
Yellow Aster Butte 061
Yellow Aster Butte 061
Clover on summit of Yellow Aster Butte - summit #2 for the wekend!
Clover on summit of Yellow Aster Butte - summit #2 for the wekend!
Summit Sadie on the true YAB summit
Summit Sadie on the true YAB summit
The views from here were outstanding - Tomyhoi Lake, Mt. Larrabee, American and Canadian Border Peaks - views into Canada - truly awesome.
Tomyhoi Lake with American Boundary and Canadian Boundary peaks in the background
Tomyhoi Lake with American Boundary and Canadian Boundary peaks in the background
Looking back from true summit to the south and the first bump/false summit that you come to
Looking back from true summit to the south and the first bump/false summit that you come to
We exchanged taking photos with the other group so that we could document our success of reaching the true summit, and talked about taking a different route back - one that would have us glissading down a westerly facing slope off of YAB - heading down to the YAB meadow and the tarns. It looked to be a bit steep, but doable. The other group of 4 left first and we watched as they made there way. What we noticed is that they didn't have ice axes (we did) and they seemed to have a bit of a struggle getting down. The snow looked to be fairly slow - but that was deceiving. So, down we headed from the summit.
Yellow Aster Butte 064
Yellow Aster Butte 064
We picked a somewhat similar route to theirs to make our way down. Thank goodness we had our ice axes! The snow was quite fast and the slope was steep.
Yellow Aster Butte 071
Yellow Aster Butte 071
Driver's last glissade of the season - Clover is in full glissade mode!
Driver's last glissade of the season - Clover is in full glissade mode!
But, since this would likely be our last glissade of the season, what the heck?! Sadie and Clover loved it! They ran up and down the slope (show-offs - just cause they have 4-paw drive!) trying to glissade with each person that came down. We got to the tarns and ran into the earlier group of 4 and their dog - who Clover proceeded to play this wonderful game of tag (where do those dogs get that energy?)
Pups in the tarn.
Pups in the tarn.
Chavez (the other dog) at one point got himself off out onto an arm of snow/ice in the middle of a tarn (see pic above) that looked like it would break at any moment! We all waited, but he made it back just fine! We headed back to the main YAB trail - which included a fairly steep, switch-back trail up to the main trail - short and steep, but in great condition.
Hiking back to the main trail from the tarns.
Hiking back to the main trail from the tarns.
We got back up on the main trail and headed down.
Yellow Aster Butte 079
Yellow Aster Butte 079
We were surprised by the number of people on the trail - at least 50 - and the number of people who were still coming in when we were on our way out around 2:00 p.m. It's a very popular trail and it's no wonder - the views are spectacular. It would be a great overnight backpack of its own - and it's not all that far to go (although, you do gain some pretty good elevation, so travel light). There was plenty of water the whole way - and staying in YAB Meadows would make getting water easy. You could camp here and do several day trips, including Tomyhoi (a bit dicey just before the summit - so make sure you know what you're doing). It had warmed up considerably on our way out, but the route back didn't seem as long as the descent yesterday did. We got back to the cars, changed into some clean clothes and plotted a strategy for next weekend - - - perhaps Sourdough? The dogs collapsed at the car - but a good collapse. They were pretty happy dogs. In all, about a 6400' gain this weekend and about 20 miles. Not bad. And, the bugs were tolerable. All in a dog's day of work. lol.gif (P.S. Hiker Jim and Trail Pair will probably post more pix on this report.)

Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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JimK
Member



Joined: 07 Feb 2002
Posts: 5606 | TRs | Pics
Location: Ballard
JimK
Member
PostMon Jul 17, 2006 10:20 pm 
Photos have been added.

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Dayhike Mike
Bad MFKer



Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Posts: 10958 | TRs | Pics
Location: Going to Tukwila
Dayhike Mike
Bad MFKer
PostMon Jul 17, 2006 11:03 pm 
Looks like you guys had a good time! YAB is definitely on my list of to do's one of these days.

"There is only one basic human right, the right to do as you damn well please. And with it comes the only basic human duty, the duty to take the consequences." -P.J. O'Rourke "Ignorance is natural. Stupidity takes commitment." -Solomon Short
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JimK
Member



Joined: 07 Feb 2002
Posts: 5606 | TRs | Pics
Location: Ballard
JimK
Member
PostWed Jul 19, 2006 7:54 am 
My full report with 45 photos is here: Yellow Aster Butte Report Here are a few photos to complement the Driver's.
Mt. Baker
Mt. Baker
Anemone
Anemone
Kolleen
Kolleen
Suzanne and Baker
Suzanne and Baker
Tomyhoi Peak
Tomyhoi Peak
Heather And Shuksan
Heather And Shuksan
Trail Pair On Summit
Trail Pair On Summit
Baker, False Summit, And Ridge
Baker, False Summit, And Ridge
Paintbrush
Paintbrush
First Glissade
First Glissade
Between Glissades
Between Glissades
Tarn & Border Peaks
Tarn & Border Peaks
Tarn & Shuksan
Tarn & Shuksan
Penstemon
Penstemon
Flowers And Peaks
Flowers And Peaks

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TrailPair
Member
Member


Joined: 17 Apr 2005
Posts: 1699 | TRs | Pics
TrailPair
Member
PostWed Jul 19, 2006 12:56 pm 
Beautiful hike......a great day in the Mountains. cool.gif It was a true "bluebird day". Thhis hike had everything....stunning views....a bit of elevation gain....a fun scramble to the true summit.....and what is probably the last glisade of the season! up.gif up.gif Exellent Report.....and photos.

This thing called work is interfering with my play
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Dean
(aka CascadeHiker)



Joined: 02 Mar 2002
Posts: 1967 | TRs | Pics
Location: ex Kennewick, Wa & Lehi Utah
Dean
(aka CascadeHiker)
PostMon Jul 24, 2006 10:14 am 
I had missed this one. Excellent TR and pics. Loved the shot of the dog sitting in the snow field cooling off. up.gif

Dean - working in Utah for awhile and feeling like it is a 'paid' vacation. http://www.summitpost.org/user_page.php?user_id=1160
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Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver



Joined: 24 Apr 2006
Posts: 1763 | TRs | Pics
Location: Welcome Pass
Sadie's Driver
Sadie's Driver
PostWed Jul 26, 2006 8:04 pm 
Hi Dean - I think we saw you on Dirty Face/Leavenworth. You would love Yellow Aster - plan an overnighter and go on to Tomyhoi. That would be wonderful. The dogs LOVED Yellow Aster. Don't know how much snow is left now, though. s.d.

Four-paw buddy lets me tag along!
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Meander
J Prettymountain



Joined: 15 Jul 2006
Posts: 288 | TRs | Pics
Location: Seattle
Meander
J Prettymountain
PostWed Jul 26, 2006 11:01 pm 
Camping next to the tarns, taking photos of Shuksan as the sun goes down, then going up Tomyhoi in the morning is one of my favorite North Cascades trips. It's just so pretty there. Nice trip and photos!

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