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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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I am crazy sensitive to it. If I see it along the side of the road, from my car, it's already too late. I'm definitely in the Prednisone camp.
Zanfel is the single most amazing thing science has ever produced, ever.
Part-Time Communist either skimped on the application, reinfected herself as Riley suggested, or is not a carbon-based life form. The stuff WORKS.
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aguacaliente
climber
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Poison oak CAUSED the civil war.
If it wasn't for poison oak, the Earth would have peace, and sweetness and light would abound.
Even climbers' internet forums would be joyous and tranquil.
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aguacaliente
climber
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Historians say that Edward Teller invented the H-Bomb because he feared the Soviet Commie threat.
This is a coverup of the embarrassing truth. The H-Bomb was just a failed attempt to create something more destructive and awful than poison oak.
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steveA
Trad climber
bedford,massachusetts
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I learned this from a search online.
If possible run hot water over the rash, ( hot as possible). The histamine reaction will be intense but will relieve any further itching for a few hours, and from my experience, it will shorten your ivy episode by a few days if repeated.
good luck
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justthemaid
climber
Jim Henson's Basement
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I'm super sensitive as well. I was immune as a kid, but now it gets ugly. I got my arm into it somehow a few years back and I looked like a burn victim. I carry a small soap bar climbing in Malibu and wash off immediately if I know I've touched it these days.
Urishoil (PO) oil never looses potency so you can get a rash off gear that has been stored for years. Wash everything if you've been in the stuff.
Cool or cold-water shower is best when you first get back from possible exposure. Technu will not kill the itch, but it does seem to keep it from spreading. I've never tried the Zanfel so I'll defer to those who have. After you already get the rash, I agree with the scalding-hot water.
My other half is so sensitive he goes systemic from even tiny exposures. A tiny bit of rash gets into his system and spreads all over his entire body and take months to heal. Never seen anything like it.
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Tony Bird
climber
Northridge, CA
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we used to give our toddlers a penny while hiking for every time they could successfully identify poison oak. they got "rich" fast, and pretty good at avoiding it. then our son got it after a hike to point mugu. we had avoided it assiduously. i figured out that he probably picked up the oil from the tall, thick grass we went through at a certain point on the trail, the oil deposited there by hikers less careful than us.
it's interesting that mule deer graze on poison oak regularly. they say if you've got some native tribal blood, you'll be far less prone to it than we of european descent. i've been lucky in avoiding it all all my life--poison ivy in the midwest, poison oak out here. poison oak generally grows on shady northern slopes. you'll never find it above 5,000 feet. know your compass direction and look for it.
i had a recent thread on euell gibbons, and he spoke about these irritants in one of the online articles i read. there are a variety of folk remedies. euell practiced one from a saying they have out east, consuming a single leaf of the plant at the right time of year. he claimed it kept him immune for the rest of the year. you'll have to dig for that, but i found it interesting. perhaps he had some native blood too.
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Moof
Big Wall climber
Orygun
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Another vote for Zanfel. It takes 2-3 treatments for me, but is by far the best treatment I've come across.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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I don't know about poison oak but I love poison ivy- it keeps the crowds down in the Black Canyon and I don't get it.
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couchmaster
climber
pdx
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however 'Jewel Weed' aka 'Spotted Touch Me Not' effectively neutralizes the effects of Poison Oak and Ivy
I had heard that as well Tom, and planted a patch in my back yard and in the area where I was climbing that had PO. Doesn't work at all for me. At all. There is several types of jewlweed (touch-me-nots) and I made sure that I planted the correct one, the amber colored stuff.
PTC is the 2nd person to say that Zanfel didn't work for them. It is the only thing which really works for me. I've also done the Euell Gibbons trick of eating a small leaf at the start of the year and that helps mitigate it for a few months.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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flaunt that which torments you.
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Spider Savage
Mountain climber
The shaggy fringe of Los Angeles
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It will be gone in less than 2 weeks if you can effectively clean all the sources.
Invisible sticky oil. Comes off one thing onto another. Then back onto you again somewhere else.
Technu always works for me.
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Killer K
Boulder climber
Sacramento, CA
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Ive done tree work for 10+ years and cut the vines out of trees to where the stalks start oozing black $h#t that will actually burn your skin. Ive found that most people get it when they remove their clothing at the end of the day. Take your pants off before your shoes and leave them inside out then throw them directly in the wash. Wash with tecnu cause it works. Also if your out in the field and think you may have touched it and there is no water around or tecnu rub your hands together with dry dirt to absorb the oils. Most people dont get it on the palms of their hands cause the skin is too thick. Respect PO and you wont get it leaves of three let them be!
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Tahoe climber
climber
Davis these days
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Ugh. Have some now, courtesy of the Gold Wall and Andy, my Australian Shepherd.
+1 for Technu.
I've also had luck burning it off with powdered chlorine - someone mentioned swimming pools up above. Probably is cancer-causing but it sure dries that sh#t out - especially Poison Ivy.
Just used Technu for first time, post-rash, and it was bomb. For me it immediately cut the itching and stopped the spreading.
I'm not big on genocide, but if those three plants were all killed out I'd be psyched.
TC
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Elcapinyoazz
Social climber
Joshua Tree
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Ya'll should have lotsa fun at Arch Rock, Finger Lickin', Roadside Attraction, and most of the lower Merced crags.
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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killer k i've been
faced with the daunting task
of flipplining up a 50' trunk
that is heavily adorned with the climbing
poison oak vines. i usually leave them vs cutting them
cause then you don't have to tiptoe around the
sap.
i dress well covered and technu up after a days work.
i've yet to contract the itch,
well at least the poison oak itch.
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Killer K
Boulder climber
Sacramento, CA
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Norwegian, yeah unfortunately we were contracted to clean up a large grove of live oak and removing the vine was part of the job. Usually I would leave it be as well. My buddy showed up late to the jobsite and asked me what to do while I was climbing. I told him pick a tree and start pruning 15 min. later he asks me "whats all this vine up here?" The next day he didnt come to work cause his balls were as big as grapefruits! I dont get it that bad and there are people I know that can chip it bare handed with no adverse effects. I usually leave it to them to handle it.
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mucci
Trad climber
The pitch of Bagalaar above you
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Wash the affected area with Mid grade gasoline.
Then light yourself on fire, the pain from the barbeque will overshadow the Oak.
Poison Ivy is worse, as is living on the east coast.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Do dogs get a reaction to poison oak?
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
sorry, just posting out loud.
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small swipe of it discovered today in the shower
Destroy the evil weed!!!
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Willoughby
Social climber
Truckee, CA
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PTC is the first AND second person to claim that Zanfel didn't work, at least on this thread.
DMT - those aren't Poison Oak flowers. I'm not sure what it is, but it ain't P.O. Plenty of examples of Poison Oak blossoms and a fruit on the CalPhotos site.
They are white, but they're much smaller and more subdued:
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