Date: 2015-07-31
From: Wildcat Shelter

To: Fingerboard Shelter
Miles today: 14.3
Weather: broken clouds

I woke up itching and after breakfast when I changed I assessed the situation. The rash was spreading and looking much angrier. Both of my arms were swollen along with my belly and thighs and burned like fire. The ivy was bad and getting worse as the OTC meds I had were not doing anything. I hiked 1.5 miles down to the Lakes Road where I saw a bear cub playing in the woods about 100' off of the other side of the street and took some pictures but never saw the mother. I asked a couple and asked where the nearest ER was, showing my rash in explanation, they were so nice that they immediately canceled their hike and took me 15 miles to the nearest ER. They told me to call when I was out and they would pick me up and take me to their home for dinner. I was seen and was told that it was a pretty severe reaction to the plant and given a good ol' shot in the hiney with a huge needle which was very painful!, I was given a prescription for a package of steroids and prescription strenght Benadryl. They gave me the first dose of both of which I started taking and began to see results right away. I went to the pharmacy and was waiting for the prescriptions to be filled and called for my ride back and they were soon there and we were soon at their house. I cleaned up and they gave me loaner clothes to use while they washed anything that may have been in contact with the infected area so I wouldn't just get more of the oil on me from the material. I didn't want to go through this again! While this was washing I was given a huge plate of salad and homemade bread, folowed by eggplant lasagna with a desert of fruit pie and icecream! I felt like I had died and gone to heaven! Alarmed,I found I had forgotten my phone at the pharmacy and we raced back to find it right where I had left it, much to my relief. He then took me back to the trail where he had picked me up and I was hiking on to the Fingerboard shelter. It was a struggle in part due to the Benedryl which made me sleepy and the terrain which was pretty rugged. The Fitzgerald Falls were very nice and as always, I enjoyed the Sterling Firetower (I love firetowers!) which had an incredible view from the top. Then it was off to the Mombasha High Point and then down to Boardwalk Pond where I stopped for a quick dip in the cold water. Arden Mountain was a rugged climb and it hurt like hell going through the Lemon Squeezer as I had to lean all my weight on my bad shoulder against the wall all the way trough. It was so painful that I cried and had to take a safety meeting and my OTC Extra Strength Tylenol right after, just so that I could carry on. I finished climbing Island Pond Mountain after a short break and I cointinued on to the shelter getting there right after dark. The shelter is very cool having a fireplace of and being built of stone right on the stone. There's no privy at the shelter so you have to go a ways as there's no cover around the shelter.I gathered water and quickly rinsed off at lake Tiorati and felt better right away. The swelling was gone and the rash was rapidly clearing. I made dinner, taking my medication for the rash. I had another safety meeting with a hiker at the shelter to help with the pain before I turned in for the night.