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| via google images |
Ok, so Teddy is a month into his trip - every time he calls, he sounds so strong, energetic and speaks in such a positive way. Enter poodle-dog bush. Pictured at left, this plant is covering many parts of the trail in Southern California. Teddy has unfortunately been introduced to this beautiful, yet harmful plant along the way. According to Wikipedia, poodle-dog bush causes severe irritation if touched, akin to poison oak or stinging nettle. It can raise blisters lasting as long as two weeks. Even worse, Teddy also came into contact with poison oak, so between the two, he is sporting a nasty, itchy, uncomfortable rash. It appears on his skin as if he was burned - he said it is really gross and extremely uncomfortable. Hopefully it will go away before its two week span is up. To make matters worse, there have been record heat waves in the area where he is hiking. He said yesterday, it registered at 104 degrees, and I am sure, with hiking through the Mojave desert, his situation cannot be too comfortable. The photo below was taken by Teddy on his cell phone as he began the Mojave Desert - in all the days he has been walking, there has not been a day of rain.
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Mojave Desert via google images
I have tried to find other hikers' photos to post, so you have an idea of the terrain that Teddy is hiking through. The photos are from the PCT website, taken by other hikers along their journey. |
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| Photo by Nick Legg |
Hang in there, Scarecrow - before you know it your rash will be healed, your body rehydrated, and you will be calling me about record snowfalls in the Sierra Mountains, where you will be using your mighty ice axe and subzero tolerant sleeping bag. Brrrrrrr....
Ahhh . . Poodle Dog bush. The bane of many hikers. There is so much of it in the Angeles National forest because most of the forest burned in 2009 in the Station Fire. Poodle Dog bush is what is called a "fire follower." It grows for several years after a fire until the scrub brush takes over. I
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