Taken from just up the Cottonwood Pass (306) road,
1 shows the upper route. From the parking area, follow the broad trail north into the forest. After 1 mile, cross the Denny Creek stream on a log bridge. Near 1.3 miles, reach the Hartenstein Lake/Mt. Yale trail junction
and turn right -
2. Yale. Weave through the forest and eventually parallel the stream in Delaney Gulch.
Near 11,200', cross the Delaney Gulch stream on a log bridge
-
3. Shortly after some small meadows, the trail climbs north then east up a steep hillside -
4 and
5. Above 12,100', leave the trees and continue up through rocks as you approach a shoulder -
6 and
7. Once on the shoulder, head northeast toward Yale's upper west slopes -
8,
9 and
10. Near 13,200' the upper slope steepens -
11. Grind out 750 feet of elevation gain to reach 13,950', at a saddle
on Yale's northwest ridge.
Turn right and walk over to the base of the rugged summit ridge -
12. Follow a cairned, Class 2, boulder-hopping route along the west (right) side of the ridge crest or scramble along the ridge crest to increase the difficulty to Easy Class 3 -
13 and
14. Continue to the spacious summit
-
15,
16 and
17.