Mountain Girl

Mountain Girl is a strain named after Carolyn Garcia, devoted psychonaut, activist, and former wife of Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia. This bud was created by Oregon-based Pilot Farms as a cross between Willy’s Wonder, Grandaddy Purple, and the notorious White Widow. Mountain Girl offers a head-focused buzz, complemented by a rich, earthy flavor profile. Sure to impress cannabis newcomers and novices alike, Mountain Girl has a THC content that’s been measured at between 17% and 20%.

Mountain Girl sets itself apart with medium to large buds that hold an almost spherical shape. The nugs adhere in a dense, indica-typical structure, with leaves coiled tightly inward. The leaves themselves are a vibrant lime green and are threaded through with curly brown to orange pistils. Occasionally, phenotypes of the strain will boast streaks of blue and violet — these surprising hues come about when pigments called anthocyanins in the plant’s genetics are agitated by colder than average weather during the growing process. Finally, White Widow passes on a propensity for trichome production, coating these already-colorful flowers in translucent resin secretions.

When properly cured, Mountain Girl smells fruity and dank, with hints of black licorice. There’s also a skunky tang lurking underneath. Grinding up or breaking open these solid buds gives off a more musky odor. When combusted, the strain burns with a thick, acrid smoke that can tickle the palate and trigger coughing or watery eyes. This smoke has a skunky flavor on the exhale with a slight hint of pine. Notably, despite some shades of purple, Mountain Girl has no discernible grape flavors; this is because the color of its leaves is determined by pigments, while the leaves’ aroma is dictated by separate compounds called terpenes.

Mountain Girl asserts itself quickly, exerting a pressure around the smoker’s eyes and temples. As they adjust to these odd physical sensations, users may also feel an uptick in their thinking patterns, with thoughts jumping from one to the next. Although some may find the experience overwhelming, in the right set and setting, this cerebral spin can facilitate social vibes and stimulating conversation; alternatively, some smokers may want to engage in productivity, using this bud’s mental focus to power through work. In less active circumstances, Mountain Girl may endow users with a euphoric energy, helping them to feel present and engaged in the world around them. It can also serve as a handy way to enhance tedious activities like cleaning the house or running errands. As the high progresses or as dosage is increased, a body stone creeps in, making limbs feel weighty and tingly. Nevertheless, Mountain Girl never becomes completely incapacitating. This buzzy bud is a quintessential wake-and-bake strain; consumed at night, it’s liable to keep smokers awake and overly wired.

Mountain Girl can also have far-reaching benefits for medical cannabis patients. It may soothe aches and pains, whether they’re temporary or chronic and nerve-related. It can also provoke hunger, making it an aid for those who many have lost their appetites to disease or to treatments like chemotherapy. Psychologically speaking, Mountain Girl’s long-lasting sense of focus can help patients with attention deficit disorders to work on single tasks. It can also help to temporarily distract those suffering from mild to moderate stress and depression, helping them to spend their time more consciously and presently. Because it can easily lead to an overwhelming feeling of “mindrace,” Mountain Girl should be consumed with caution by those who are prone to panic or who have a low THC tolerance.

Pilot Farms has not made seeds of this strain available for sale online. As such, prospective growers must obtain clippings from mature, healthy plants of the strain in order to grow genetically identical “clones.” Although there is little information available on best practices specific to cultivation of this strain, we know that, like many hybrids, it can grown indoors or outdoors in semi-humid, Mediterranean-like climates. Additionally, those looking to bring out the bud’s full bag appeal should expose their crops to cold (but not freezing) nighttime temperatures just before flowering begins.

Somewhat difficult to come by outside of the Pacific Northwest, Mountain Girl is worth snatching up for its richly-perfumed flowers and buzzy mental effects. It’s a potent and enjoyable smoke even if you don’t feel at home in the mountains like its namesake Carolyn Garcia.