During my hike on the PCT between the Mojave Forks dam and the springs there were a couple of sections where the trail had deteriorated from sand and gravel slides that went across the path. At some of these sections and I had to cross carefully placing my hands against the uphill side of the trail for extra support to make sure I did not slide down the hill. Some of these places had shrubs sticking out of the hill that I grabbed onto for balance. I am not sure if it was those shrubs or somewhere in the various canyons that I went through but somehow I must have gotten some Poison Oak oil on my hands. I know I did see Poison Oak bushes in the canyon where I had to ford the stream but I thought I had kept clear of them. I did not feel the effects of the Poison Oak until a day or so after I got home. You will never guess where my Poison Oak rash broke out........on my private parts!!!!! STOP LAUGHING.....IT"S NOT FUNNY!!!!! Well maybe it is, just a little bit.

I guess what happend is the Poison Oak was on my hands and when I unzipped my fly and grabbed ahold of my member to take a pee I transferred the Poison Oak oil to it!!! Man I am going to have a miserable week or two!!! The only other place a rash broke out was on my wrist, my palms and fingers have been unaffected up to this point..

So hopefully I can share a few words of warning to you all, if you are anywhere near the Poison Oak bushes in the Deep Creek area and you think you might have touched one, make sure you wash your hands really well before you think putting them anywhere near your family jewels!!! From what I have been reading there is no real cure for the rash, I will just have to live with it for awhile until it goes away. Anti-itch lotions are only partially helpful, take it from me, I know.