When: Sunday September 7th, 2025

Time: 7:00 – 10:00 AM. Individual working period is always flexible, just communicate your intentions with the leader.

Where: Meet at Candy Mountain Trailhead parking lot – Address is 71004 E. 669 PR N.E. Directions: turn off of Dallas Rd. onto PR669 Rd. NE. Drive uphill to the parking lot on the right Don’t leave anything in your car that may appear valuable since some car break-ins have occurred.
Duties: Locating and hand pulling Yellow Starthistle and Diffuse Knapweed Plants. The Rush Skeletonweed plants are left rooted in the ground, but are clipped of their blooms and buds, and the remaining plant stems individually “painted” with Roundup herbicide. (not all crew members do this task). Plants range in size from short, small plants to larger branched plants with thorns. At present, plants are ranging from only a few inches in height up to 3 feet in height, depending on species and individual growing conditions. They may occur as single plants, small groupings, or in sizable patches. Presently we are seeing weeds in the full blooming stage with many in seeding stage, making for the need for quick removal. We will bag and remove the plant material.

Tools and Clothing: Bring good strong gloves — leather is best! Long sleeved shirts and long pants are recommended for scratch and sun protection. Don’t forget a hat. A small set of pruning clippers is often useful. Generally, just pulling and bagging the plants has proven to be the most practical method of removal. Since we are constantly moving, a fanny pack or small backpack is useful to carry your “stuff” — gloves, phone, water, snacks, tools, sun protection, etc. Bring heavier plastic bags for the weeds if you have them – like feed bags or potting soil bags, etc. I will have bags, too.

Terrain: Be advised that we are working off-trail where the ground is sloped and uneven with plenty of other common weeds and native plants to wade through, rocky in some areas — sturdy boots recommended. I suggest using boot gaiters to keep the Cheatgrass out of your socks and boots, as it is plentiful this year!

FYI: The nearest toilet is at the trail-head. Strategically situated SageBrush plants on the hill can provide emergency privacy if required!?

Reply to: davidbeach47@gmail.com Please let me know as early as possible, so I have an idea who to be looking for and how large of a group to expect for assignments, supplies, etc. After meeting at the parking lot, we often split up and drive our vehicles, or carpool to another location closer to the work areas.