Guest barefoot Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 I've just started on my fourth case in three months. Neat! Quote Link to comment
Guest bunkerdave Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 I had my first experience with stinging nettle a few weeks ago. I can't imagine there is a worse weed, and if there is, I pray I will never feel its wrath. That nettle had to be the worst itch I ever had in my life. Quote Link to comment
Guest barefoot Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 I've never run into stinging nettles before (knock on wood), but my girlfriend did a few weeks back. It turns out that one of the best things to stop the itch is the juices from the plant iself, FYI. I didn't know that, but wish I did. Quote Link to comment
Guest logscaler Posted July 9, 2001 Share Posted July 9, 2001 takes more. I am lucky, I do not get poison oak. Had a massive dose as a kid, swelled up like a ball park frank and since then, nothing. Try those ferns bunkerdave and let me know. Myself, as Moun10bike can attest to, I HATE DEVILS CLUB!!!!! dadgum stuff. Quote Link to comment
Guest Silver Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 LOL. I usually get about one case a month from either poison oak or stinging nettles. I have had more encounters after starting geocaching than I have gotten previously in my entire lifetime of hiking. Go bushwackers! (Seriously, stay on the trails, never touch a plant, avoid anything with three leaves. ) Darn Red Brick Road cache! Silver Quote Link to comment
Guest Hard Slate Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 This is my first case since starting geocaching.Actually my first in several years, I was begining to think I became immune to the stuff or something,oh well, just wishful thinking I guess. I came in from geocaching on the fourth, late as usual,and forgot to wash up.Gotta pay if you want to play. Quote Link to comment
Guest Snowtrail Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Hard Slate, which one did you get it from? From what I've seen, the IVY is at all of the sites near us. I've run into it 4 times this year, while wearing capri pants, shorts, barefeet even and have yet to get it. I had it really badly as a child, under the eye lids, in the lungs and such and made a deal with satan to never get it again. So far I haven't... Quote Link to comment
Guest Robereno Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 About every other year I get a bad case of poison oak. I guess after time goes by I forget how bad it was and then get careless. Speaking of itchy rashes, when I lived in Okalahoma we used to get something called Chiggers. Man, they?re a lot of fun. Quote Link to comment
Guest Peter Scholtz Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Geez, sounds like you guys have some vicious plants over there! Sure we must have some, but can't recall. Anyone have a link to some info and pictures of these critters? ------------------ Peter Scholtz www.biometrics.co.za Quote Link to comment
Guest Exocet Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 I and some friends walked through/around some at a cache we created along the Columbia Gorge area of Oregon. Fortunately, though, we were either very deft at avoiding the Poison Oak or we were very lucky. None of us got any rash. Soon after, though, I bought some Tecnu and bring it along with me when I go hiking now. Quote Link to comment
Guest k Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Peter, Try this site: http://www.dermik.com/skin/rashes/sri-ivy.html Quote Link to comment
Guest Peter Scholtz Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 quote:Originally posted by m&k:Peter, Try this site: http://www.dermik.com/skin/rashes/sri-ivy.html Thanks, interesting stuff. Most important seems "The plant oil is released when the plant stem or leaves are cut or crushed." - i.e. try never to step on/in plants ... ------------------ Peter Scholtz www.biometrics.co.za Quote Link to comment
Guest Hard Slate Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Snbowtrail, digging around looking for the 'octopus garden'cussing 'AT'the whole way(he hid it last).It's in the same park with 'urban get-away'. The poison ivey isn't too bad, couple small spots on my legs, the one that gets me is on the back of my neck, don't ask me how! Quote Link to comment
Guest Snowtrail Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Back of the neck ummm... seems that you touched it then touched your neck. Washed your hands, but the oils were still on your neck. Ivy stinks cuz if it's oils touch a non-poisonous plant, that plant will take on the itchy ivy's characteristics. Quote Link to comment
Guest rijn Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 I hate Chiggers! I seem to get them every time we go out they crawl up pant legs. Now I keep clear fingernail polish with me in the car to put on them so when I notice them I can suffocate them fast. I have gotten Poison Ivy once since we have started caching, now if it is mentioned in the logs or cache description I avoid that cache. Maat Quote Link to comment
Guest BGSkierNC Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Try these two sites for more info on poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. http://www.life-assist.com/plantguide.html http://poisonivy.aesir.com/welcome.html BG Quote Link to comment
Guest Prime Suspect Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Never. Sensitivity to poison ivy/oak/sumac is acquired, not innate. If you don't come in contact with it in your youth (like me), you've got about 50/50 odds that, as an adult, you will never become sensitized to it. The younger you are at first contact, the more sensitive you will be to it, though it will decrease somewhat with age. BTW - most people have no idea when their first contact was, since they developed no symptoms. It's only on your second contact that the rash and itching will appear. Quote Link to comment
Guest rusty Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Never, never, never answer natures call when you have poison ivy on your hands! Nothing yet has been more embarassing than going to the doctor becuase you have a rash, down there, in the shape of a red hand print Since that time about 10 years ago I've never had any reaction to it. Rusty... Quote Link to comment
Guest Moun10Bike Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 quote:Originally posted by logscaler:Myself, as Moun10bike can attest to, I HATE DEVILS CLUB!!!!! dadgum stuff. All right, all right, I said I'M SORRY!!! ------------------ Jon (Moun10Bike) 25H/56F/3C/2S/2X N 47° 36.649', W 122° 3.616' www.switchbacks.com/geocaching.html Quote Link to comment
Guest Moun10Bike Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 quote:Originally posted by Silver:Darn Red Brick Road cache! All right, all right, I'M SORRY!!! At least I put warnings in the Red Brick Road Cache description -- I'll have to do the same for the Hanna Flats and Roosevelt Grove caches! Or maybe I'll just do a "Tour of Northwest Pesky Weeds Cache" and call it good! ------------------ Jon (Moun10Bike) 25H/56F/3C/2S/2X N 47° 36.649', W 122° 3.616' www.switchbacks.com/geocaching.html [This message has been edited by Moun10Bike (edited 10 July 2001).] Quote Link to comment
Guest DParesh Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 AAARRRHHHGGG!!! I REALY hate the misc. poison plants. I seem get itchy eyes a lot in the summer and when I go tromping around in the woods, I manage to get the oil on my hands/fingers, then rub my eyes. I've had to go to the doctor's office several times 'cause my eyes start swelling shut! I got a case of poison something when I went caching on July 4th. It started to show up on Thursday afternoon, and now is in full swing, and spreading. I think I'm do for another trip for a shot or something Ron Quote Link to comment
Guest Mike_Teague Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Itchy eyes swelling shut, etc. etc.. Sounds more like a pollen allergy (******* grasses knock me out -- As a teen, I once came home after walking thru a field of tall grass and my mom couldn't recognize me -- she said I looked like I'd been boxing).. Christ that was the worst experience with an allergy I've had.. uncontrollable sneezing/drooling/watering eyes, face swelling up, etc... But after a heavy dose of OTC antihistamine and an hour or so, and I was fine... But, more to the subject.. I once had an experience with poison oak when I was about 12 at summer camp in the San Bernadino mountains of socal -- I remember the counselors saying "leaves of three, let 'em be".. I never touched any plants, but ended up with the rash right after coming home -- secondary contact evidently.. Oddly enough I have not had to tolerate anything more than mosquitos since then, and all of my hiking/camping is off-trail, full-on bushwacking.. I guess I'm just lucky! Quote Link to comment
Guest barefoot Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 Oddly enough I have not had to tolerate anything more than mosquitos since then, and all of my hiking/camping is off-trail, full-on bushwacking.. I guess I'm just lucky! "Yes, you are" he mumbles and drools through swollen, blistery lips. Quote Link to comment
Guest mcb Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 I have had poison ivy at least three times since starting geocaching. I no longer hunt caches in shorts. mcb Quote Link to comment
Guest Cache-potato Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 never had any ill effects, be it ivy, oak or sumac. just as long as I don't eat a shrimp or lobster on the way to a cache I will be OK Quote Link to comment
Guest brokenwing Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 All you Northerners should count your blessings that you don't have fire ants up there! Nasty little critters whose bite raises a very itchy blister. I have the unfortunate luck to be allergic to them as well. More than a couple of bites, and my whole body swells up like a balloon! Given a choice, I'd take the poison plants anyday! Brokenwing Quote Link to comment
Guest ClayJar Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by brokenwing: All you Northerners should count your blessings that you don't have fire ants up there! Nasty little critters whose bite raises a very itchy blister. You forgot the one teeny detail about fire ants: There can't be only one. [This message has been edited by ClayJar (edited 10 July 2001).] Quote Link to comment
Guest barefoot Posted July 10, 2001 Share Posted July 10, 2001 quote:Originally posted by ClayJar:Given a choice between fire ants and poison plants, I'm somewhat depressed that I have both (and who knows, maybe killer bees before too, too long). Shoot, that's probably just the tip of the iceberg around your parts, right Clayjar? Isn't Baton Rouge all humid and swampy? Scary dangerous life loves conditions like that! You probably have all sorts of things to steer clear of when looking for treasure. Quote Link to comment
Guest ClayJar Posted July 11, 2001 Share Posted July 11, 2001 If a Cajun can cook it, it can't be all bad, can it? When it comes to hazards... Poison plants And fire ants Are far the worst of them The buggy swamp Where gators romp Is just a pretty gem (Why did I just wax poetic about outdoor hazards around here? I have no idea.) Quote Link to comment
Guest Quinnow Posted July 11, 2001 Share Posted July 11, 2001 I have seen what poison Ivy has done to people before, and it isn't a very pretty site. But for some reason that I am not sure of, the stuff doesn't do anything to me. I could wear shorts with no shirt and roll around in it for days and nodda! But if my brother even reads about it in books he breaks out. Kinda strange. This is a very Important topic for people who are not used to going off trails into the woods or fields. It should be made public that you will want to view some pictures of Ivy's so you know what you are getting yourself into! I don't want to see any kids stepping in it and then rubbing their eyes or to that sorts. If you guys know of people that are new to the sport, make sure you contact them and explain these things as " On the top of things to watch for list" ------------------ Quinn Stone Rochester, NY.14616 www.Navicache.com Quote Link to comment
Guest xanthari Posted July 12, 2001 Share Posted July 12, 2001 My Brother-In-Law is very allergic to Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac .... so when he goes hiking/camping we bring along a spray bottle with a 3:1 water:bleach solution (yeah just houshold bleach) if you get into some Poison Ivy/Oak/Sumac just spray down with it as soon as possible and it keeps the reaction to a min. (this is basically a diluted version of what we used as a decon agent in the military for "blister" agents) ... the best advice I can give is always wear long pants and long sleeves when moving through unfamiliar wooded areas (I wear my old OG-107s) even in the summertime (it can actually keep you a little cooler as long as its not heavy clothing) ... as for stinging nettles I have had a little succes with putting a paste made out of meat tenderizer on it (same with jellyfish) sometimes I add a little baking soda if its on hand..havnt tried using liquid from the plant stems but if I ever get in it again I'll give that a shot. X Quote Link to comment
Guest adventuretom Posted July 12, 2001 Share Posted July 12, 2001 Hard Slate. The front path to the garden has a lot of Ivy, but not the poison kind. You must have done the bushwhack through the back method! I picked up a small case on my right hand from Off the Beaten Path. I think it was from digging around for it. Unfortunately I see loads of it everywhere now. Quote Link to comment
Guest kymike Posted July 14, 2001 Share Posted July 14, 2001 I just was told of a over the counter product that is supposed to be the ticket for poison ivy. Its called "TechNu" I believe. I haven't actually seen or used it, but if it works the way it was described, its just what the doctor ordered.(excuse the pun) Quote Link to comment
Guest McIrish Posted July 14, 2001 Share Posted July 14, 2001 Can't hurt to try it!!!! Quote Link to comment
Guest Gossamyrrh Posted July 15, 2001 Share Posted July 15, 2001 I've got a persistent case of poison ivy on the back of my left leg...two spots, right where the skin meets when you bend your leg. Like Texas, it gets *really* hot and humid here....so I would rather just put-up-and-shut-up....and cover myself in calamine lotion. Quote Link to comment
Guest glcanon Posted July 15, 2001 Share Posted July 15, 2001 The best medicine is to avoid the stuff: poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumack, and caches placed near these plants. Problem is, so many of the caches here in Texas are hidden around these plants, or you have to bushwack thru tons to scrub to get to the cache. Dumb! These plants can incapacitate you for a week or more, and leave scars. One ounce of the active agent in these plants is enough to infect 5 billion people, nearly the entire population of the planet. And contrary to popular belief, if you've had an infection before, you are likely more susceptible to future infections. The stuff I took after my last infection costed $40/oz. That's incentive enough for me to avoid dumb caches and poison plants. Personally, I think caches hidden in such places are idiotic. Lord knows what the hider was thinking (no common sense). Avoid ALL three leaf plants if in doubt. You won't regret it. Quote Link to comment
Guest Anton Posted July 15, 2001 Share Posted July 15, 2001 Greetings! Well not poisoin ivy, oak or sumac, but some kind of temporary rash (24 hrs) caused by a variety of weed with tiny scratchy thorns that left red stripes up and down my legs, some of which turned into the rash...or maybe hives - not sure. So why did this happen? Because I let the game get to me, when I should have skipped the hunt for lack of long pants. Doh! Okay, so I learned the lesson: always wear long pants for geocaching. No exceptions! Anton, 10H/10F ------------------ Anton Ninno - N2RUD Syracuse, NY 13210 Quote Link to comment
Guest k2dave Posted July 19, 2001 Share Posted July 19, 2001 Just started and allready have some posion ivy rashes. Anyone try that ivy block stuff? Does it work? Quote Link to comment
Guest celts Posted July 19, 2001 Share Posted July 19, 2001 I don't get poison ivy, but I'd rather be hung upside down by my toes than have one more encounter with stinging nettles!!!!! Quote Link to comment
Guest PharoaH Posted July 19, 2001 Share Posted July 19, 2001 quote:Originally posted by Mike_Teague:Itchy eyes swelling shut, etc. etc.. Sounds more like a pollen allergy (******* grasses knock me out -- As a teen, I once came home after walking thru a field of tall grass and my mom couldn't recognize me -- she said I looked like I'd been boxing).. It may sound like it, but it isn't. My wife is allergic to Poison Oak/Sumac/Ivy to the point that it affects her breathing and her eyes. Just walking through an area with Poison plants nearby can distress her. We carry Benadryl on the trail at all times - it helps quite a bit. Quote Link to comment
Guest Cape Cod Cache Posted July 19, 2001 Share Posted July 19, 2001 I haven't had it in years, I keep my eyes open and wear long pants and sox. I have moved a cache that had a nice spring growth around it and warned of a surrounded trail for another... Too bad it turned people off to it, great blueberries there too this year. I DID spray a bit of the stuff when I last checked it though Quote Link to comment
Guest PharoaH Posted July 19, 2001 Share Posted July 19, 2001 Of the not quite 2 dozen caches we've hunted in Georgia, I can't remember one where we haven't seen poison. We always wear long pants and lately we pack long sleeve shirts in the backpack. I would rather sweat in the heat and humidity down here than itch for a week or two! We always shower and scrub clean with dial soap as soon as we get home. The clothes and even the towels and washcloths go into the laundry immediately. I am less sensitive to the stuff, so I handle the "poison laundry". An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - now that's an understatement. Quote Link to comment
Guest kymike Posted July 20, 2001 Share Posted July 20, 2001 Heres the address for the technu poison ivy treatment I referred to earlier.http://www.teclabsinc.com/ Hope it helps. kymike Quote Link to comment
Guest glcanon Posted July 20, 2001 Share Posted July 20, 2001 It's easy for all you Northern Yanks to say "wear long pants and long sleeves." Ever try geocaching for a couple miles in 100+ degrees heat with 97% humidity! It's no fun. To the hiders -- GET A CLUE! NO POISON PLANTS! HIDE WITH SAFETY IN MIND! Quote Link to comment
Guest Cache-potato Posted July 20, 2001 Share Posted July 20, 2001 0000 ways it will not work'. Quote Link to comment
Guest poppyseed Posted July 20, 2001 Share Posted July 20, 2001 This is tangentially related... I was out hiking at Bull Run the other day and saw a tree that I SWEAR looked like a poison ivy tree. Now this just can't be. It wasn't a vine of ivy on a regular tree, and it wasn't a shrub - this was a branchy, large deciduous tree with leaves clustered in threes that looked exactly like poison ivy (a plant I am quite familiar with, lamentably). I can't remember what kind of bark the tree had - not overly rough nor overly smooth, gray-brown, but no other details. As I said, it was a large tree, bigger than a large cherry but with many stout branches, several of which dipped out over the water. Any clue what this tree was? As for other nasties - in North Carolina there seem to be an abundance of cow killers. Saw one last weekend. Lovely velvety red bug that looks like a whopping big (one inch) ant. It's actually a wingless wasp, female, and has a vicious sting, I'm told. In fact, it has one of the longest stingers of all stinging insects, and wasps can sting multiple times without dying. It's tough as nails so hard to crunch. Frequents sandy areas, particularly river banks and other leafy, sandy places a cache might hide. Range is all over the mid-Atlantic and south, extending to southwest. So be careful! It got its name because the sting is supposedly wicked enough to drop a cow, though that's just a myth. Someone mentioned a prep of meat tenderizer/baking soda for jellyfish stings and stinging nettles, but the same preparation is good for wasp stings. Quote Link to comment
Guest bearboy Posted July 20, 2001 Share Posted July 20, 2001 What the heck are Stinging Nettles? Are they in Michigan? I went to a cache last weekend in Lansing Michigan(Spartan Cache).I wandered off the trail to find the cache when all of the sudden I ran into some leafy plants that were just stinging the @##$%% out me.The pain was excruciating.I wanted to cry like a baby.I didnt cry but I found the cache and got the heck out of there.I didnt break out from the stings but I did have a few dozen bumps on my legs.I did see some Poisin Ivy in the area also.I avoided that stuff.It seemed like I itched for about 10-15 minutes after the incident.I have had severe allergies all my life so I was on my Claritan and Rhinocort.Thank God. Quote Link to comment
Guest CharlieP Posted July 22, 2001 Share Posted July 22, 2001 I encounter poison ivy on almost every cache search I do here in the metro Atlanta area, the stuff is everywhere. I usually wear shorts (it gets hot here) but luckily, I am not very sensitive to the stuff, and the worst effect so far has been a rash on my leg that did not itch and went away in a day. I try to avoid damaging the plants as I brush pass, I think the poison is released in greater quantity if the plant is crushed. I have had a bigger problem with ticks and chiggers. It seems that any wooded location here where there are deer, will have ticks and chiggers. Quote Link to comment
Guest PharoaH Posted July 23, 2001 Share Posted July 23, 2001 quote:Originally posted by glcanon:It's easy for all you Northern Yanks to say "wear long pants and long sleeves." Ever try geocaching for a couple miles in 100+ degrees heat with 97% humidity! It's no fun. To the hiders -- GET A CLUE! NO POISON PLANTS! HIDE WITH SAFETY IN MIND! I live and cache around Hotlanta, Georgia and we almost always wear long pants. Sure, its not as balmy as Houston, but its hot nonetheless. The mistake many make is wearing jeans. Cotton is terrible when you're hot and sweaty, it just soaks all the sweat up and clings to you. Find some lighter long pants, maybe like the old "parachute pants". Also remember that some caches are placed in the winter when poison plants aren't active. Someone just can't tell if there's going to be poison ivy in a certain place three months into the future. Remember, you have to deal with mother nature if you're going to play in her back yard. Quote Link to comment
Guest dustystar Posted July 23, 2001 Share Posted July 23, 2001 quote:Originally posted by k2dave:Just started and allready have some posion ivy rashes. Anyone try that ivy block stuff? Does it work? My wife and I put ivy block on and ran a 16 mile loop around Giant City park in S. Illinois - with shorts. Can't say it worked, can't say it didn't but after cleaning up well, no trace of a rash. Quote Link to comment
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