Forest Service has done an effective job of shutting down Trail 699, the old way (""Keep Kool Trail"") to Yellow Aster Butte and Tomyhoi Mountain. Parking is now on the main road (Twin Lakes Road). No signs, of course; it's about 2.2 or 2.3 miles from State Highway 542 at the Department of Transportation maintenance depot.

The short road from here to the former trailhead has seen a good deal of attention from a backhoe operator; thank-you-ma'am's are plentiful along the few hundred meters to the former carpark. The U.S.F.S. has removed all trailhead signs, but the trail is not hard to find. It is somewhat overgrown in the lower portion, and the middle region has about eight blowdowns significant enough to draw irate attention. Otherwise, the trail is in good shape.

It's clear that the Forest Service wants this trail to be abandoned. We descended the new way, using the new trail that cuts over to the Tomyhoi Lake Trail not far below Gold Run Pass. This is an excellent trail and is currently in excellent condition. We benefited from a great deal of recent trail work, mostly the removal of numerous blowdowns, mostly on the Gold Run Pass trail. This approach to Yellow Aster Butte is easier than the old Keep Kool Way, and we met a great many hikers, perhaps a hundred or so, many not carrying any pack. (The new trailhead is about two miles farther than the old along the Twin Lakes Road.)

However, this new cutoff from the Gold Run Pass/Tomyhoi Lake Trail is NOT a good replacement for the old way, even though it is well constructed and scenic. The reason is that the trail crosses steep terrain where winter snows will linger late into summer. Even now, a good deal of the track is snow-covered, although these passages are not steep and the route is now very safe. But earlier in the season some of the traverse would be quite dicey for anyone lacking ice axe competence.

So, although the U.S.F.S. probably will not appreciate the suggestion, I would ask the question whether it wouldn't be nice if some numen or trail angel might adopt the old route, to keep the brush down and either clear downfalls or establish circumventions. Just a question. I wouldn't want to advocate activity in opposition to the will of the Forest Service.

8/9--8/10, Keep Kool trail is officially closed, but still in surprisingly good condition, very few blowdowns but somewhat brushy; snow-free almost to lower meadows. Lower & upper meadows & lakes 100% snow covered, some drifts upto 30feet deep. Lakes not even visible. Unlikely to melt free this year.

Yellow Aster Butte itself is snow free. The new trail between the butte & Gold Run pass poorly signed, not flagged, and mostly buried in huge snowfields. Extremely difficult to follow & at least one particularly treacherous, exposed snowfield.

Gold Run pass trail also snow covered the last 1/2 mile or so, but well flagged. Lots of blowdowns along entire trail, some clearly several years old (and this is the ""new"" official trail to YAB. Sheesh).

Overall it makes a terrific loop trip through some spectacular scenery & views. Mid-week we saw no one.

Even the drive up
the Mount Baker Highway to the trail head was a treat. I love Autumn. You get an early peek at the surrounding mountains on this hike then you spend the next 2 miles in the woods. When I reached the first meadow I was thinking that this was nice but... After I topped the next rise I found what made this a great hike! There was snow on Yellow Aster Butte and I was pleased to see the trail goes further up than indicated on the Green Trails map. The views of the surrounding mountains sprinkled with snow and the fall colors in the meadow took a toll on my film supply. I enjoyed my first walk in the snow this season as well. The wind picked up toward the top and I was glad I had brought several layers of clothes because of the threat of rain. The trail has been well maintained. There is water on the trail in spots but after the recent rains and snow that's not a suprise. You can tell this is a popular trail, it is wider and the meadow area more trampled than it should be but that seems to be the case with most of the trails in the Baker area. Lots of people enjoy them each year.

Trail starts off
as a huffer-puffer through steaming second growth and gets harder, through loose dirt channels in the open. Made it to a campsite in 2 hrs, despite some bouts of foraging. Forecast called for morning fog, so headed NNW off to Tomyhoi, hoping it was still doable in the waning hours of the late autumn afternoon. This section of trail is a heartbreaker, constantly dropping and regaining elevation. Crossing the 6"" wide tip of the glacier is still necessary, making me wish my ice ax was not being used as a deadman at camp, although it would have done little in the prevention department. The gully straight up from the glacier is melted out and exposed; a better route up and down is slightly to the right. The final descent / ascent is straight up some pleasant and exposed class 3. Views were just grand, solitary, wild and naked. The trail back is very easy to lose - easy to navigate in the sun, but could get ugly in fog (remember your compasses). The blindingly full moon rose over the basin, illuminating every mountain and tarn and nearly instigating a midnight hike up Yellow Aster Butte. Alas, sleep prevented it until the am, but the popular double summitted mountain was very lonely at that early hour. Made it back in 1.5 hrs, thinking the trail up should still be called ""Keep Kool"", but the way down should be renamed ""Just TRY not to blow out your knees (hahahaha)"".

Saw a sunny day
and grabbed the daypack. Two hrs door to trail head was not to bad and I found my self alone on the trail. Cool in the forest as a steadyy trail bed gained elevation. Soon broke out in mixed glades and meadows as the trail passed through 5000 feet or so. Lots of views as I gained the ridge area where there was a few last remaining snow patches and tarns. A new trail was dug going up what looked like a pretty steep trail section of Yellow Aster Butte. I headed up the newly dug switch backs and then straight up a path to the top as the newly dug trail bed went south east going toward Tommihoi lake. Nice views and breeze met me at the summit. Three hrs up two hrs down and a pleasent hr of lunch at the top. Nice walk with great views.