RE: [Paddlewise] Parsnip that eats paddlers.

  We have them around here in the NE as well.  I recollect a day on the
Esopus in the Catskills when a bunch of us got the blisters and the
irritation.  It's a curious mechanism in that the oils from breaks get onto
your skin but do nothing until they are activated by UV rays (i.e.
sunlight) -- then you get it.  Means there could be a further delayed
reaction if it's on your clothes...
	We called it Poison Parsnip but checking into some books I see there's 4-5
species possible.  No idea at this point which species it really was.

Joe P.



> [Original Message]
> From: Michael Daly 
> Subject: [Paddlewise] Parsnip that eats paddlers.
>
> Well, irritates.
> I first came across wild parsnip 9 years and 11 months ago while 
> canoeing the Nahanni River.  Evidently, it's spreading and is showing up 
> in other areas.
>
> While nasty to us, bears like to eat the roots, so if you see this stuff 
> in the wild, you might see a bear if it's just the right time in the 
> season.  I'd been warned of the bear risk when paddling the Nahanni, but 
> the irritation factor was not well known.  It affected 9 out of 12 
> paddlers in our group all from one wander into the woods for a hot 
> spring swim.  It prevented some from hiking a couple of days later while 
> the big blisters healed :-(.
>
> If you think it looks like Queen Anne's Lace, that's because it's in the 
> same family.
>
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/06/070621134058.htm
>
> Mike
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************