Day Hike - Yellow Aster Butte

This is a gorgeous route mostly above treeline in expansive meadows, which should be coming into flowers now.  Panoramic views along nearly the entire route, including excellent vistas across the valley to Mt Baker, appearing to be close enough to touch!

We will do a little cross-country scouting on low-risk terrain from Yellow Aster Butte to Welcome Pass for a backpack trip later in the summer, then wander up from Welcome Pass for a distance along Excelsior Ridge to catch the best views, then back to Welcome Pass and down to the Welcome trailhead.  Ideally we will have enough vehicles to leave one at this trailhead and take one or two more to the Yellow Aster Butte trailhead, then shuttle back around.

This trip will require very good aerobic conditioning and the map-compass skills and confidence to negotiate cross country.  I would like to maintain at least a 2mph pace including rest breaks.    If you have not already  done a few strenuous hikes at this pace in the recent past, PLEASE DO NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS HIKE!

6:30AM at Ash Way Park and Ride, Lynnwood.  Google map:  https://www.google.com/maps/place/Ash+Way+%26+Park+and+Ride,+Lynnwood,+WA+98087/@47.8527899,-122.2595644,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x549005b44c257759:0xaf509a7aa6e20079

The trailhead is about 2 hours 30 minutes from the Ash Way P&R.

Carpooling details to be arranged among the participants.