Route Editor
Route Scout
I hiked Table Top on Sunday with a couple guys from work- about 2/3 of the way along the trail, I started to notice that my calves were itchy. I didn't really think much of it, knowing that sometimes if I go for a jog my upper legs will itch a little just from the heat or something. But on the way down, I pulled up my pantleg to take a look and I had HUGE red splotches on the calves of both legs.
By the time I finished the hike, there was no more itching, but a little burning, and they were still very red. Basically it just feels sort of like a sunburn now, although not that bad. I've been putting caladryl lotion on it, and now it's just a light pink, with little red dots.
: The first thing I thought of was maybe poison ivy, but one of the guys I was with said he is highly allergic, and he had no problems.
Also, I remember being extremely winded in the last couple hundred feet of the ascent, but just figured that was because I'm horribly out of shape and the hike was kicking my butt. But I also remember, an hour after completing the hike, occasionally getting the feeling that i was out of breath. I thought it was just typical exhaustion, but now I'm wondering if it might have been related to the rash.
Do you know of anything out there that might cause a problem like this(mainly thinking about the rash, but I guess the breathing too)? I guess it's possible that it could have been bug-bites of some sort, but it's only my upper/outer calves and a few dots on my shins and ankles. I'm glad I wear long pants though, or maybe it would have been all over the place!
Thanks for any information you might have.
Note to self: add bottle of Caladryl to backpack.
