[pct-l] Yellow jackets and Epipens on the PCT

[Jeffrey Olson]

I was stung dozens of times by honey bees and hornets growing up.  When 
I was 40, I was stung by a wasp, and my arm swelled up to half again its 
normal size.  I carried an epipen for years until I was stung after I 
put my socks on and was putting on my (then) boots.  It hurt like the 
dickens and I had my girlfriend get out the epipen.  I sat there for 15 
minutes or so, waiting for a reaction.  Nothing but a minor welt, and 
when I finally started walking, it wasn't as bad as a small blister.

I think different stinging insects elicit different systemic responses.  
A doctor would know...

Jeffrey Olson
Rapid City, SD

On 9/10/2012 5:04 PM, Brett Fisher wrote:
> I'm not allergic to bees. That said, I've been stung several times on my
> thru hike this year.
>
> Once on our first day on the way to Hauser Creek. And twice on the trail
> above Deep Creek. There's also an infamous hive a few miles before reaching
> the water faucet below Fuller Ridge leaving the San Jacintos, but I wasn't
> stung there. I've also received a few stealth stings or bites on my ankles.
> This is based on the pain, wound, and swelling I observed later - one in
> the Station Fire area, and the other north of Sierra City.
>
> I started observing yellow jackets themselves on a regular basis on the
> climb out of the Feather River canyon and on into Northern California.
>
> I know they are here in Oregon just waiting. (I was born and raised here,
> and hiked my first hikes here). Waiting to annoy and bite. Rude little
> creatures.
>
> -Backtrack
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