Take
542 east from Bellingham, through Glacier and 13.5
miles beyond. Turn left immediately after the snow equipment/highway
equipment maintenance sheds (almost like you're going to park there).
Turn left at the Tomyhoi Trail sign and follow that road 2.2 miles to
the Keep Kool trailhead.
[The
Keep Kool trail is no longer maintained. The new trail starts
farther up the same road at the Tomyhoi Lake trailhead. Just before the trail
reaches Gold Run Pass a new trail crosses under the south side of Yellow Aster
Butte and intersects the Keep Kool trail at the lakes. -Mike]
Take the Keep Kool trail into the Yellow Aster Lakes basin; a steep 1200 feet in the first mile, then leveling out in a pretty meadow, then climbing up to the first lakes at 5200 feet. From here, climb up to a ridge to the north, following a boot path. You'll come out on top of a knob, then drop about 200 feet, and then start climbing again.
Here
the route traverses around to the north side of Tomyhoi above the
Tomyhoi Glacier remains. Stay just on the top of the glacier or in the
bergschrund. At an obvious notch, cross to the south side of the ridge and
follow a series of benches to the false summit. Drop 100 feet, then climb 150
feet of 3rd class rock (much less intimidating than it looks from the false
summit, but still somewhat loose). Follow the ridge west to the summit
cairn.
Follow the climbing route.
[Yellow Aster Butte is an easy hike from the lakes. The northern summit (easy class 3) is the higher one. We camped at the lakes, then watched the sunset from Yellow Aster. Not to be missed! -Mike]
Trip report with pictures: http://mattandmaren/tomyhoi-9507.html