I’d like to make a public service announcement to bring awareness to the tick borne illness called “Alpha Gal”. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha-gal_allergy
This is a pretty serious allergy caused by the bite of the Lone Star Tick. Sometimes called Mammalian Meat Allergy (MMA), it has no cure.
This tick is present across the South and has spread to the Northeast. It is present in Shenandoah National Park and I was bitten by one (I removed it) and was later diagnosed with the allergy. In a nutshell, you become seriously allergic to red meat and dairy (anything that came from something with hair)! Beware of ticks, especially the white spotted ones, I never thought it would happen to me!
I plan to start incorporating food choices and how I deal with it into my vlog. For a start though, there are many hiker staples that are now off limits for me (determined trial by fire prior to the test results):
NO FROSTED PoP Tarts (most non frosted are ok)
NO Jerky, Meat Sticks, Slim Jims, etc.
NO Snickers, or most similar candy....
NO Gummy Candy - usually contains gelatin from mammals
NO Cheese, Cheese food procuct, Cheeze, Cheese Whiz, Chez', etc of any kind.
NO Pizza (vegan ok)
NO Ice Cream Challenge (unless they have sorbet)
NO Nido
NO Chocolate, Hot Chocolate, etc.
NO Yogurt, or Yogurt covered anything
NO Lunch Meat of any kind - even turkey, as they are often processed with milk ingredients.
None of the obvious burgers, dogs, mac-n-cheese, etc.
The list goes on...
Ok, on to the hike!
This was a great hike in the Shenandoah National Park, from Big Meadows Campground to Bearfence Hut. It is approximately 15 miles round trip and has very little elevation gain / loss. I’d list this as being moderate if you include the “scramble”. More information on the scramble part of the hike can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/shen/bearfence.htm
As usual, I’ve posting some videos showing the trail, the shelter, legal campsites along this section of trail, and more importantly (to me) the springs. š
The Bearfence Hut is a fairly standard 3 sided structure with an internal mezzanine and can sleep approximately 8. There is one privy at this location, a couple poles to hang food bags from, AND a very cool (and large) bear locker to place food in. The spring was very sad and barely flowing – you will need to scoop or pump from this one. There are also several very good tent sites right nearby.
A free permit is required to overnight in the park. More information can be found here: https://www.nps.gov/shen/planyourvisit/campbc.htm
Lewis Falls Loop Hike - Shenandoah National Park
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jSFGXrL5cE
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