[pct-l] Poison oak

[Stephen]

Good, there are folks who probably will get in it anyway.  I know exactly 
what it looks like in all seasons.  I helped with some fire research work 
and we were in it all day.  But Iam thinking tobring stuff for it not just 
for myself butincase some unfortunate I meat might need some goo...

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com" <diane at santabarbarahikes.com>
To: <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, January 25, 2009 6:50 PM
Subject: [pct-l] Poison oak


>
> On Jan 25, 2009, at 2:14 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:
>> Ever hear voices in the water?
> Yes, I hear them all the time. It always sounds like singing. Like a
> choir. Freaks me out.
>> All I am worried about is the poison oak in N.Cal.
> Most of the poison oak people were in holy terror of was not poison
> oak at all. It was squaw bush. I mentioned that to someone and he
> dared me to prove it by rubbing it on my face. Well, he had vanished
> by the time I found some squaw bush to rub on my face, but Cuddles,
> if you're reading this, I actually stopped and rubbed it on my face!
> It was not poison oak!
>
> I have a web page with pictures of poison oak, if you are interested.
> It has many different looks. I ought to have a picture of squaw bush,
> too, but I don't. Ray Jardine has an illustration in his PCT Hiker's
> Handbook (don't know if it's in Beyond Backpacking or not.)
>
> Here's the link: http://www.santabarbarahikes.com/gorp/poisonoak/
>
> Poison oak isn't something to be too terribly concerned with. Learn
> what it looks like and watch where you are going. If you're unsure,
> just don't rub up against it.
>
> If you get it, it's just a rash, not a death sentence. Don't scratch!
> If you scratch the first time, you'll know it's poison oak because it
> will feel orgasmic and painful at the same time. This is a signal to
> stop scratching. No matter what, do not scratch. It WILL subside and
> go away. HOT HOT water applied to the skin will bring you relief
> enough to fall asleep. Benadryl can help, too, if you don't mind side-
> effects. But the best thing is to not scratch. The itchiness WILL
> subside.
>
> By the way, some may not know this, but poison oak has an escape
> clause. If you are ever so lost and tangled in the brush you have to
> climb through it to get out, it will let you off without a rash. This
> won't help you on the PCT, though.
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