Balsam and Nettles and Prickers! Oh My!

TFR · 08-05-2006, 06:47 PM

With apologies to The Wizard of Oz...

It was a great weather day for a hike, nice temperature, a gentle breeze, mostly sunny. Perfect conditions right? Wrong-O!

Balsam is not a really rough hike, so we started out from the trailhead at 10. FlipsBliss met Laurie, me and my friend Tarun, and off we went. Right away, we saw some nettles, but they were easy to get by. This became more and more problematic as we went up. We were all wearing shorts. Ouch, Ouch, Ouch! Fortunately the sting goes away after about 10 minutes.

The nettles finally gave way near the junction at the top of the saddle. But, now the blackberry bushes took over the trail!

They were everywhere, up over our heads at times! And there were no berries yet!

We picked our way thru as best as we could (with some help from our hiking-poles-turned-machetes) and made it to the summit, where we had some respite. We ate lunch more or less bug free and then headed down the other portion of the loop trail thinking it couldn't be any worse!

It wasn't any worse, but it certainly wasn't any better! This trail needs a *LOT* of brushing out! Flipsbliss and I donned long pants and led the way, trying to clear the path slightly for Tarun and Laurie. We got back to the car at 2:50, a leisurely pace, (Tarun doesn't hike much, and with the nettles, and blackberries, and blisters and cramps, we went pretty slow - poor guy - and he said he enjoyed himself!

).

When we got back to the trailhead, I cooled off in the stream. It was nice and cold! We also had a few 'cold' ones from the cooler!

Another fun day in the Catskills!

mudhook · 08-05-2006, 07:41 PM

That whole side of the catskills seems to be nettle haven this year. I encountered many and the berry prickers a couple weeks ago along the ridge between BI and Eagle and in the basins on my bushwacks up and down, my legs were bleeding and my whole body itching. I now have nettle proof pants that go with me everywhere.
Today was a beautiful day to be out, and for a cool off in a stream at the end of the hike.

billandjudy · 08-05-2006, 09:10 PM

Sounds like fun day, nettles and all. Lots o' nettles seems to be be the consensus this year. Boy am I glad they don't bother me

HEE HEE---Sorry--but hey you guys were hikin' and I was workin'

08-06-2006, 04:22 PM

I was up on Big Indian,Eagle and Balsam today. It was hard to make good time crashing through berry bushes.My arms are a bit chewed up.I don't recall seeing so many nettles in the hills.The berry bushes were chest deep or higher in some spots.

08-05-2006, 06:47 PM	#1
TFR Peek-Bagger Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Tillson, NY - Avatar: Whiteface Slide Posts: 5,383	Balsam and Nettles and Prickers! Oh My! With apologies to The Wizard of Oz... It was a great weather day for a hike, nice temperature, a gentle breeze, mostly sunny. Perfect conditions right? Wrong-O! Balsam is not a really rough hike, so we started out from the trailhead at 10. FlipsBliss met Laurie, me and my friend Tarun, and off we went. Right away, we saw some nettles, but they were easy to get by. This became more and more problematic as we went up. We were all wearing shorts. Ouch, Ouch, Ouch! Fortunately the sting goes away after about 10 minutes. The nettles finally gave way near the junction at the top of the saddle. But, now the blackberry bushes took over the trail! They were everywhere, up over our heads at times! And there were no berries yet! We picked our way thru as best as we could (with some help from our hiking-poles-turned-machetes) and made it to the summit, where we had some respite. We ate lunch more or less bug free and then headed down the other portion of the loop trail thinking it couldn't be any worse! It wasn't any worse, but it certainly wasn't any better! This trail needs a LOT of brushing out! Flipsbliss and I donned long pants and led the way, trying to clear the path slightly for Tarun and Laurie. We got back to the car at 2:50, a leisurely pace, (Tarun doesn't hike much, and with the nettles, and blackberries, and blisters and cramps, we went pretty slow - poor guy - and he said he enjoyed himself! ). When we got back to the trailhead, I cooled off in the stream. It was nice and cold! We also had a few 'cold' ones from the cooler! Another fun day in the Catskills! __________________ Tom Rankin - 5444W - Proud Member #0003 of ADKHP Foundation Volunteer Balsam Lake Mountain President Catskill 3500 Club CEO Views And Brews! Trail maintainer for the Dry Brook Ridge trail from Mill Brook Road to just past the Lean-to

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08-05-2006, 07:41 PM	#2
mudhook Forum Moderator Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: On the slopes of Old Clump Posts: 2,262	That whole side of the catskills seems to be nettle haven this year. I encountered many and the berry prickers a couple weeks ago along the ridge between BI and Eagle and in the basins on my bushwacks up and down, my legs were bleeding and my whole body itching. I now have nettle proof pants that go with me everywhere. Today was a beautiful day to be out, and for a cool off in a stream at the end of the hike.

08-05-2006, 09:10 PM	#3
billandjudy Jimmy Dolan Notch Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 4,020	Sounds like fun day, nettles and all. Lots o' nettles seems to be be the consensus this year. Boy am I glad they don't bother me HEE HEE---Sorry--but hey you guys were hikin' and I was workin'

08-06-2006, 04:22 PM	#4
hermit Guest Posts: n/a	I was up on Big Indian,Eagle and Balsam today. It was hard to make good time crashing through berry bushes.My arms are a bit chewed up.I don't recall seeing so many nettles in the hills.The berry bushes were chest deep or higher in some spots.

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