Weeding the Wilderness

Before and after of the "motherload" site.

I have to admit that this sounds like an odd concept to me. However, it is an important way to help control invasive weeds in the wilderness that can help to avoid having to apply pesticides, so I found myself up early to head out with Renee and one more volunteer to help weed tall white top (which is hard to eradicate by weeding, as I learned, but hopefully can be controlled in the small areas where it has established itself) and musk thistle (which responds well to pulling as long you get the weed before it flowers).

Starting out from the Hunter Creek Trailhead.

Climbing up Hunter Creek toward the site.

It was in the midst of our recent (and now strangely long ago seeming) hot spell, so it was already hot by the time we got to the site up in Hunter Creek in Mount Rose Wilderness. We worked steadily through the morning, starting at the white top site and the continuing on through the musk thistle.

Renee showing technique for digging out the thistles

Musk thistle can grow into quite a tall plant, and, with loads of stickers (strong enough to poke through leather gloves), it was quite the challenge, but also really fun once you got into the swing of it. First loosen the roots the shovel, then try to grab near the base to avoid the stickers, and yank it out.

Quick rest stop before getting back to work.

The nasty roots of white top which make it so hard to eradicate by pulling, but I don't think this one is coming back!

We worked pretty much all morning and then, when it got really hot, the we started up the side canyon off the main creek, and then we found the motherload site of thistles. They looked like they blanketed this area. But we attacked it diligently and by the time we finished the area looked drastically different.

Find the hidden volunteer pulling weeds.

The "motherload' site. Looks like a scene from after a battle.

One good thing about weeding is that you can really see the difference you make. By the time we finished the mother load spot though we were pretty much exhausted and Renee made the call that we should start heading down.

Headed back to the trailhead, a day well spent!

Another bonus of volunteering on a busy trail, we got to pass all the hikers with that smug, we were helping out the wilderness attitude—priceless! :D

Just a view of Hunter Creek Canyon.