Re: Baxter Pass trail conditions?
Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 6:51 pm
I hiked down Baxter Trail 7/22/13. Since the trail is a bit difficult to see, it is best for people in a group to stick together. That way a straggler won't get lost. But with a group searching for the trail at each non-obvious place, it was easily findable.
I'd like to clarify about the 'stinging nettles' for people who are about to hike the trail. The nettles look like innocent plants, like big ragweeds. They are like big 'bull thistle' plants, since it is apparently the tiny spins on the hairy stems of the nettles that cause the pain. It looked to me like the stinging nettle plants grow just right next to the water, so watch out for the big bushy (hairy shafted) plants by the water crossings. The leaves are about 3" long, 1.5" wide, with serrated edges. I had long pants on, which protected my legs, but I unknowingly rubbed my hand on a stem. This allowed me to realize that the hawthorn type bushes that I had been walking past were not the nettles mentioned on this forum.
See this link for a picture. http://livingafield.com/Plants_StingingNettle.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The nettle bush that we experienced is next to the big boulder on the south side of the uppermost river crossing. It is a big bush that had to be carefully hopped over. Or use sticks to keep the stems held out of your way.
I'd like to clarify about the 'stinging nettles' for people who are about to hike the trail. The nettles look like innocent plants, like big ragweeds. They are like big 'bull thistle' plants, since it is apparently the tiny spins on the hairy stems of the nettles that cause the pain. It looked to me like the stinging nettle plants grow just right next to the water, so watch out for the big bushy (hairy shafted) plants by the water crossings. The leaves are about 3" long, 1.5" wide, with serrated edges. I had long pants on, which protected my legs, but I unknowingly rubbed my hand on a stem. This allowed me to realize that the hawthorn type bushes that I had been walking past were not the nettles mentioned on this forum.
See this link for a picture. http://livingafield.com/Plants_StingingNettle.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The nettle bush that we experienced is next to the big boulder on the south side of the uppermost river crossing. It is a big bush that had to be carefully hopped over. Or use sticks to keep the stems held out of your way.