Contracting Contact Dermatitis on the trail

 

I am in the middle of healing from my 300-tick encounter plus my contracting Contact Dermatitis.

Let me digress and explain what has got me here talking about this.

I have always been a person who as a last resort will put on bug juice to protect me against ticks and insects.

I made several misjudgments that would land me where I am currently. The first one being not using the Natrapel I brought. This repellent does not react with gortext or any other synthetic clothing that I have noticed over the years.

I made a route in the Garmin Basecamp program. I then proceeded to hike it down in the Shawnee State Forest.

I walk all the time through weeds that are over my boots. The concentration of the right type and amounts of flora that could irritate a person’s skin had to be off the charts. I was wearing shorts and mid-calf socks. You can see my sock line in the photos, and you can tell the flora still penetrated my Darn Tough socks that I was wearing.

This was on Saturday for reference.  If I am correct, it was the last 2.5 miles on the Western Day Hike Loop. This is the only area where for an extended amount of time and miles the weed and grass growth was higher than my boots.  This patch in many places is very obscure.

This was also my closing leg of the 18.2-mile hike.

I was sweating a lot to the point I had no dry skin on my body and compounded by how I smelled I had been keeping up a 2.0 mph pace.

I also think this was part of the perfect storm for this case of Contact Dermatitis and with tick issue it made it worse.

On my way back to camp, I noticed all these seeds looking around the tops of my socks. If I would have really looked at them, I would have seen they where a bevy of small ticks.  I must have walked through one or several egg masses.

Because I dismissed them as being small wildflower seeds or something similar, I had unknowingly sealed my fate.

I went by to take a shower for a few hours. I made dinner and putzed around the camp and then finally took a shower.

I took a hot shower and since I thought they were seeds I just showered normally and thus redistributed the ticks all over me!

O it gets better I slept atop of my sleeping bag in shorts I would itch my legs all through the night and it would not dawn on me to ask, “why I’m I itching?”.

I woke up and of course my legs looked worse but had not started blistering yet.  It had not dawned on me, yet what my situation was.

I unpacked the car after driving countless hours. I took a shower and after I did, I inspected myself closer.  This would be Sunday and roughly 18 after the exposure.

I looked closely at the bumps on my skin, and I could see on most of them they had a tiny brown thing on them.

I yelled out no it can’t be? I put my headlamp on into a dark room and pulled one off with a pair of tweezers and put it on a baby wipe.

I then took a macro photo of it when my phone.  I then zoomed into it and my nightmare started to unfold.  I knew these would need to be taken off and that could only happen mechanically.

I went to a local med center and the amazing nurse practitioner using the point of a needle dislodged 300 ticks!! I still am and then also was so disappointed in myself. I took no steps in precautions to stop this from happening to me.

Out of 300 ticks he found only one female, and he sent me in a script for the Lyme disease.

Then I was discharged and went home.  By now the puss blisters had been popping and my legs where swollen from my knees to my toes.

These signs were telling me I needed help and that I was in trouble.

 I took sick time Monday and Tuesday not knowing I would need to take sick time all week.

I arrived at the doctor’s office, and she immediately told me it was Contact Dermatitis.

This first round of photos is from Monday.

This second round of photos is from Tuesday.

I found a product called Bugout by Ecopest  and it’s all natural. It’s a laundry additive and you can decon (decontamination) your equipment with it also.

I have bleached all surfaces of my house, bleach mopped the house, and I have swept the house thoroughly. I have emptied the trash a lot and emptied the sweeper and the contents have been taken out to the shed for trash day.

Cross contamination is one of the hardest things to stop from happening. For the ones who have had any HAZWOPER training and or NBC “Nuclear, Biological, Chemical” warfare training you know this is hard not to do.

I just wanted to share my story and always stay safe and vigilant folks.

Random Hiking Trip information from the Shawnee State Forest

 

While I camped at Ben’s Happy Trails for two days and leaving on the third. I asked one of the workers there where is the best place to eat around here?

Knowing it full well I may need to drive an hour to get good food. In reality it was only 36 minutes. She told me to go to Abby’s Place found at 38 N Main St, Peebles, OH 45660.

It is right in the small town of Peebles, Ohio.

The photos tell the story better than my writing can do. I needed a full belly prior to me hitting the road because I did not want to stop before I got home.

Shawnee State Forest Shakedown 18.2 Mile Loop Hike

I decided to hike in the Shawnee State Forest in Ohio. I planned out a 17-mile loop out of two different loops. I used parts of the east and west day hike loops and part of the North loop of the backpacker’s trail.

Some of the characteristics of forest I did not expect. the section of forest I hiked through was young. I mean less than 40 years overall if I had to guess.

One of the many reasons I bring this up is because of the canopy coverage of the trees. Unlike many older forests they have much denser canopy where the sun can't penetrate down to the trail.  

While hiking now I carry 5 litres of water. For me this is good for 90-degree weather and 20 miles. With the lack of water resources on the ridges, it could be extremely dangerous for others who are not prepared.  

Along with the minimal water available one needs to be concerned about other heat-related injuries. I'm not attempting to be Debbie downer but being real and preparing for anyone who hikes down there or who is thinking about it. 

The backpacking trail has undergone major renovations. Some storms have rained down havoc on the trail.  

I guess by the tracked vehicle marks they have had at least one Bobcat type of vehicle in there to clear the obstructions.  

They have a lot of them gone in the North section I hiked. They back dragged the entire trail that I saw. They added water bars and made other terrain changes.

I departed from Turkey Creek Lake, and I was on my way. The sun was trying to peak over the hills.

The first ascent was 379 feet in 0.86 miles, and you could tell in the winter this would be a great view. It’s obstructed by trees, but it would still be nice.

The back-to-back ascents here in the first 2.25 miles are nearly the same.

Approximately at mile 5 I would begin my road work. Maggie joined me until she found someone else “story of my life”. Lol

This road grade would be over 2.60 miles and ascend 520 feet.

It was a nice work out and then the Shawnee roller coaster would begin.

After getting off the road I would be greeted by an ascent of 308 feet over 0.55 miles.

Again, here you could tell a piece of equipment that had been used to back drag the trail.

I was really hoping that all the trails would be single track, but one never really knows what they are going to find until they get there.

Sometimes a much-needed breeze would hit me to cool down even more.

Water Spigot @ N38° 46.246' W83° 09.703'

For this loop I think the best view in the winter of late spring would be here N38° 45.508' W83° 11.241'.

The exposed bed rock and finger you are standing on makes it extremely scenic. I also think you could hike out to the end of the finger, and the view would be even better.

The growth of the young forest would make the views so impressive with no leaves on the trees IMHO.

In closing this winding and hilly trail is not designed for a new hiker. The hydration requirements for this hike are very demanding.  This trail being a ridge runner for the most of it the ephemeral streams this time of year are dead low.

If you go, plan ahead and do not take any chances.

Camping Reservations Made

I will be hiking a 17 mile loop I created that has over 8000 feet of elevation deviation throughout the hike. 

 I will be headed down around the Ohio River for the weekend and see you on sunday when I return! 

Potentially headed to southern Ohio next weekend

Lake Erie Sunset 8-22-2026

 

No hiking next weekend

 I will be doing some admin things but possibly doing some photography somewhere!

Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT)

 

I had chosen early in the week to hike a part of the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail (LHHT).

After much research and watching other YouTube videos I had chosen these two sections. The shorter section was to see the ledges I could see on the aerials I was looking at. This section was 5.2 miles long

Then I decided to go to the Highlands Market and ask permission to park in there parking lot for the day and continue the hike. This section of the hike was 10.2 miles long.

Truth to be told I had to turn around and go back to the Soob because I left my wallet out in the car lol. Then I thought I couldn’t re-hike that so decided to go elsewhere on the LHHT.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources have deemed this stream closed for taking drinking water from it. They have found heavy metals in it.

Here is an article about it Blue Hole Creek

They also say the water hand pump Grindle Ridge should not be used.

In these two sections of the trail as you can see with the attached profiles, they are very manageable regarding elevation change.

The vista at N40° 01.413' W79° 18.666' is at an elevation of nearly 3000’.  They have harvested trees selectively to open the scenic view there.

A few words of caution for these trail sections. When it rains this area would be a nightmare. With all the exposed clay on the slopes of the inclines would be extremely tough and the footbeds of the trails would become creeks.

The food at the Market was a nice treat.

All in all, these two sections are very enjoyable.

Headed out to Pennsylvania

Well I did only 15 miles on the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail. I am working on the content

14.8 Mile Loop Hike in the Mohican State Park

 

Hiking in Central Ohio Saturday

 I laid out a 14 mile route and will have plenty of content to post after.  

Happy hiking 

ok, mother nature

 Yes, I like rain but not 5 days of it 😂

Somewhere in Pennsylvania or Ohio we will see

 Depending on the weather this week I will be headed there over the weekend.

14.5 mile hike on the Archers Fork Trail in the Wayne National Forest

 

Nestled in Washington & Monroe County, Ohio sits Wayne National Forest (WNF).

The one trail I would select for Saturday’s hike would be the Archers Fork Trail.

The trail would have a good amount of elevation deviation throughout its length.

The parking lot is small at the trailhead, but there is another trailhead in the area you could park if this lot is full. One of the trailheads is called Jackson Run Trail located here N39° 30.839' W81° 09.092'.

A lot of this route is in the creek gorges and small valleys. I would be extremely careful during any rain events in this area. This area is prone to flash floods and extreme care needs to be taken.

WNF is working hard to remove the trees off the trail, and they have done an amazing job.

I saw several hikes in primitive camping sites, some on the tops of the hills and a few in the creek bottoms. They all had some type of fire-rings and some large enough for multiple tents.

This area is packed full of deer so be vigilant when driving. When you are driving through these small boroughs and villages don’t speed, these communities are small.

I hope you enjoy the content.

Headed to the Wayne National Forest on Saturday

 Stay tuned folks

be well,

Sonder

Minister Creek Trail & Part of North Country Trail in Pennsylvania

 

A Person can find peace and quiet in our national forests and that’s why I chose the Allegheny National Forest on Saturday.

I knew though when it came to the Minister Creek loop area I would run into people, but for 8 miles of the 16 I would hike it would be void of people most likely.

In this section of the trail system of the Allegheny National Forest, I saw so much greenery and very little was made up of stinging nettles. I saw so many fungi and ferns it was incredible.

The rock formations that are on the Minister Creek Loop are something to see also. I think some of them were 60 feet tall in places.

There are a lot of free primitive camping spots on this section of trail system also. I started at 0600 at the trail head. The dark inky trees was a welcome feeling of immersion in nature. Even the squirrels were still asleep. I was shocked to see all the random rock formations.

So many signs of glacial erosion through all the scars on these massive rocks! This area of the High Plateau of the Physio Province of the state of Pennsylvania is something to be seen (reference link)

I hope you enjoy the videos

The North Country Trail (NCT)

I am headed out to the North Country Trail in the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) on saturday. 

These hikes in the ANF are demanding and these will help me prepare for my Monongahela National Forest trip in October of this year.

17 Mile loop in the Pennsylvania Wilds part 2

 

17 Mile loop in the Pennsylvania Wilds part 1

 Here are some sections of the hike from sunday! 

Headed out to Pennsylvania for the day

 I'm going to attempt a 16 mile in the Cook Forest. I am working on the content and I also have alot going on sorry for the delay.

Hang in there friends

Public land a float tube and panfish that sipped flys like they are trout

 

92 Days until my return to the Monongahela National Forest

 

I took this week and weekend as a zero!

 I will be back at it next week and weekend folks.

I hiked 17.7 miles in Pennsylvania in Raccoon State Park

This park is in a part of the southwestern corner of the state of Pennsylvania. I also feel by the lack of evidence that these trails overall do not see a lot of foot traffic. I did a similar loop last winter and even then, I did not see a lot of foot traffic.

Now take a certain thing I am doing longer hikes than most, but still I am still surprised by this.

With the heat index being above 100 degrees Fahrenheit was about being hydrated and paying attention to oneself looking for signs of a heat type of injury.

Last time I was in Pennsylvania it nearly ended up with me being in a box.  I brought with me 5 liters of electrolyte filled water.  I brought a rag to drape over the back of my neck to soak up water from any body of water to help keep my core temp down as much as I could.

I started at 0500 on the trail to beat the sun and I utilized the canopy of trees to give me the advantage of being potentially cooler.

As luck would have it, there was a slight breeze all day that allowed me to stay cooler longer.

I saw a few people hiking but that was not until about 10 am. They were hiking into the hiking shelters to camp overnight.

This loop I put together using the Garmin Basecamp program. I combined part of the Raccoon Creek Extended loop and part of the Forest, Appaloosa, and Heritage Trail loop.

The 17.7-mile loop with the total ascent and descent of nearly 6200 feet took me 8 hours and 50 minutes.

I had to take several breaks to cool down and to a wellness-check.  I have been very fortunate in my life and there is no reason to be careless while we are out in the wild.

I relearned my lesson the last time I hiked in Pennsylvania.

Stay hydrated and get some electrolytes into your body. Do your homework about heat and cold injuries to try to prevent them.

 

New Hampshire Hiking of Franconia Ridge

 These guys are my idols and I will get to feel their pain in 2028. 

15.9 Mile Hike in the Cuyahoga Valley Natonal Park

 

All of this hiking is to get this old man into better shape for my upcoming return to the Monongahela National Forest in early October.

Next Saturday I will be hiking 16 miles in the CVNP

 This will be my big push to get to a 20 miler before the Monongahela National Forest trip in October!

I will get to see just how my stamina and endurance is.

Hiked a 14.5 in and out route on the Buckeye Trail in the CVNP

 

Some people with pets

 I am not happy with the dog owners I saw today! If your on a hike and its hotter than the sun your pet needs water it is not rocket science! Poor long haired doggo!!

Hiking 13 miles on Saturday in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park in Ohio

Time to switch gears

 I will be hiking more and fishing less. I will be getting into shape for the fall Monongahela National Forest Trip.

Here is why I am starting now to get into better shape!

Chimney Top Trail

Spruce Knob

Nelson Sods

 Once again, I had chosen to fly fish in Pennsylvania. I selected a stream in Forest County. Here I would have the opportunity to hook either a smallmouth bass and or some trout.

It’s never about the actual catching that I crave, but the planning and seeing the plan through. If I was to even hook a fish it would be icing on the cake for me.

I got up at 0400 and made plenty of coffee, had breakfast and headed out.

The weather called for rain and a lot of it at some point on Saturday.  I know I needed to stay on high alert because the area I was going to was prone to flash floods and at times the road I needed to drive onto washes out from time to time!

I started low down on the creek and with a single hander rod I picked up a small perch! I thought ok this is the first for me on a fly rod.

I walked about a mile down alternating the single-handed rod and then the switch rod.

The single-handed fly rod had a size #6 streamer and the switch rod had a size #10 streamer on.

The size #6 streamer was white mylar / deer hair with a mallard flank collar sparsely tied and the size #10 was grey over white and again sparsely tied.

With random 15 mph wind gusts from time to time, you knew the storm was getting closer.

It was an amazing feeling to pull trout and smallies out of the same area.

I went to an upper middle section of the creek to see what I could see. I walked down stream for about a mile before I found some good holding water.

Here I would be rewarded with one more Rainbow on the swing. Well kinda on the swing the trout took the fly mid strip.

In the upper middle stretch here, I used a #12 olive over white minnow pattern but really it looked like a tiny saltwater deceiver pattern!

I kept looking at the sky’s and the clouds began to get much darker. Then I could here thunder in the distance, and I kept listening to it to see if I could estimate how long I had.

It was moving fast and I needed to boogie out of there and get back to my car. The rain was heavy and the dense fog made it worse!

Sorry I am not as detailed in this entry. I have been up since 0400 and I am whooped. Be well my friends!

We will see how wet n wild the weather gets

 Supposedly Forest County, Pennsylvania will get some rain in the morning.  I hope this is a passing shower.  Then later in the afternoon the area is supposed to have a few thunderstorms.  So, I will have to watch the weather n make a judgement call when I wake up at 0500.   

Gear check done and headed out soon! 

Next weekend I will be in Forest County, Pennsylvania

I will be fly fishing some new waters and camping overnight to return on Sunday.

Paine Creek Chasing Waterfalls

Local Gems can be found anywhere

If you spend enough time out in the wild you can find some interesting topographical features. The Grand River Valley has such features. Some of her river valley walls are 100 feet to 150 feet high.

Some of the Grand River’s tributaries have walls as high as 200 feet.

Paine Creek has a few tributaries that have a gorge that is 200 feet deep.  A lot of these streams are ephemeral and have water falls in them.

This video was from January

I have hiked up Paine Creek and to the high falls several times.

The tributary I am going to explore this Saturday is one of them that has 200 feet high walls.

The only way I have accessed it is hiking up from Indian Point Park. The is a water-hike and your feet will be wet most of the hike.  There are many waterfalls in this gorge, and this is the main reason I am researching it.

The above video was from March

During the winter this area is highly treacherous. I would not advise going here in the Spring due to flash floods. In the fall it would be doable, but again it is subject to any rainstorms in the area. A person could lose their life if they got caught in a high-water event.

For my first time exploring I will be going up in late spring early summer so that there is a less likely chance of me getting into trouble because of a rainstorm.

The mouth of the tertiary stream is at coordinates 41.710822, -81.159653.

I just got back and this is a potentially dangerous area. Lots of wood in the small gorge and one could get stuck in one of the pieces of deadfall.

As you will see in the videos. Its a beautiful small gorge with about 6 waterfalls.

Navigating this with a lot of water running in it would be a bad idea. If one of those pieces of deadfall lets go it could seriously injure someone.

Random Vacation Photos