[pct-l] Poison Oak

[Len Glassner]

The interminable descent down to Seiad Valley gets my award for best
poison oak on the trail. Probably because I picked some up here or on
the way out. I would say that it's not all that easy to avoid in some
of the spots in NorCal.  In some places it significantly encroaches on
or drapes across the trail.  Constant vigilance and evasive maneuvers
are in order.  I saw a plant that had been so highly unavoided that
the leaves were worn off the part that draped, leaving only the stem.

I highly recommend scratching the bejesus out of it.  Some claim this
will spread the stuff but that was not my experience.  Same for
skeeter bites.

On Fri, Feb 19, 2010 at 6:36 AM, CHUCK CHELIN <steeleye at wildblue.net> wrote:
>
> The greatest infestation of poison oak that I saw on the PCT was in N.
> California, particularly just after descending from the north end of Hat
> Creek Rim.  Elsewhere, poison oak is scarce and highly avoidable provided
> one can recognize the leaves.
>