Yellow Aster Butte

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.