[pct-l] Poison Oak

[joph at piedmontbsa.org (JoPH)]

I?ve read this thread with interest, mostly because I am severely allergic
to poison oak. I am not a thru hiker, but a section hiker (completed more
than half the PCT at this point). Last year, when starting at Campo, I
noticed the poison oak was Prolific and I was very careful not to touch it.
If you are severely allergic you tend to be very careful as even bare and
dead looking branches will give it to you. Like Yogi, I have recently
discovered Zanfel. It sounds like Elizabeth maybe highly allergic also.
Zanfel works if you don?t have a lot of Posion Oak and it doesn?t become
?systemic.? For some people, like my husband, Zanfel is a real gift?even
after working in poison oak, it will stop the symptoms in short order. It
also works on me if I wash the affected area with Tecnu (to remove oils) and
I only get a little bit?otherwise, unfortunately, it?s Prednisone or shots.
I?m working on getting my head around this and am determined that I will get
better (mind over matter).

The point I want to make is that the best thing is be aware and always on
the lookout and just avoid touching it if you can. The trails are mostly
maintained to the point that you should be able to avoid it if you know it?s
coming. But do be aware that it hangs over and sticks out on the path. I had
asked someone to pass this info on to ADZPCTKO last year (we started April
1) because I saw so much of it.
Jo