This time of year, when all the pretty wildflowers pop up in Summit County, noxious and invasive weeds sprout, too. These invasive species, such as musk thistle and scentless chamomile, aggressively crowd out native plants and gradually destroy the habitat for wildlife. Help come to the rescue! On Saturday, July 13, volunteers can attack several bad infestations during the Summit County Community Weed Pull. To sign up follow this link Bit.ly/weedpull24.

What is a weed pull? Well, you walk through some of your favorite scenery and pull weeds out of the ground.

This year, we will gather at the Summit County Senior Center at 8 a.m. for breakfast, social time and a quick lesson on noxious weeds. Local weed evangelist, John Taylor, and the Summit County Weed Manager, Ryan Cook, will present a brief lesson on noxious weeds, and how to eradicate them. You might even learn that musk thistle is “allelopathic” — and what allelopathic means!

Then, we disperse to the infestations. You can choose among locations. Sites we’ll hit this year are:

River Trail, Breckenridge – Familiar to visitors and residents alike and has beautiful foliage along the Blue River. Unfortunately, much of it is invasive chamomile, increasingly spread by foot traffic. We will pull and bag the chamomile, also preventing seeds from getting into the river and infesting locations downstream, allowing beautiful native plants to return.

Swan River Restoration Project, Reaches A and B – This has been a successful restoration project by Summit County Open Space and Trails Department to restore the Swan River to its pre-mining nature. But, since no good deed goes unpunished, moving tons of dirt gave invasive thistle and chamomile a great place to grow. Let’s pull those weeds before a huge seed bank is created.

Maryland Creek Park, Silverthorne – This area was recently invaded by an epidemic of musk thistle and chamomile. Park construction provided a place where residents can walk their dogs, play disc golf or practice yoga. But, soil disturbance has made the area ripe for invasive weeds. Not only are seeds distributed by people and animals, strong winds from the north spread the seeds extensively, creating a monoculture of invaders.

Hunters Knob, Silverthorne – This may be the most remote location, right on the edge of the National Forest. It’s a beautiful place to spend a morning enjoying the views. For five years now, volunteers have attacked musk thistle in the three lovely meadows. We are gaining ground, but the weeds pop up every year. A second weed pull will be held by Friends of the Dillon Ranger District and Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance there July 23, in the late afternoon.

Peninsula Recreation Area, Frisco – This area has long been a playground for Nordic skiers, mountain bikers, and hikers.  New bike trails disturbed the soil and invited weeds into the area.  The U.S. Forest Service, Summit County Weed Team and dedicated citizen volunteers have been treating the area for years. This is the closest location to the morning meeting.

Tenderfoot Mountain, Dillon – Another area with new bike trails and an infestation along the trails.  Local cycling groups are working together to get this under control. Who wants to hit a thistle when on a mountain bike?

Of course, Summit County and the USFS has great weed control teams, but weeds are so aggressive that help is needed. After joining in the weed pull, as a new weed expert, you can help all summer. Hope to see you out there.

Also, July 6 is Trailhead Hosting Day. Friends of the Dillon Ranger District and Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance volunteers will be at trailheads throughout Summit County. Stop by to learn more about trails, the 60th anniversary of the 1964 Wilderness Act and “Leave No Trace” techniques.

Jim Alexander is a Silverthorne resident who has worked with Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance for six years. He leads the Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance Weedspotter program and the Eagle Summit Wilderness Alliance Grant program, which funds several wilderness projects.