Just wondering. I got one twice, recently, out west, both times after hiking in wet weather. Since you AT guys are hiking in the rain all the time, I'm wondering how common this is out there...
Thanks!
Just wondering. I got one twice, recently, out west, both times after hiking in wet weather. Since you AT guys are hiking in the rain all the time, I'm wondering how common this is out there...
Thanks!
No. My 10 years on the trail and more than that in hiking web pages like this have never once even heard about ear infections. On the Navy ships I was on we found that those people who frequently cleaned their ears with a q-tip had MORE infections than those who did not.
I've never heard about anyone getting an ear infection on any of the trails, except for you. Your infection was probably started before you hit the trail.
ok, thanks guys... just thinking, cause it's a fungus infection, so, I'm out hiking in the woods, where the mushrooms are growing, so seems like the conditions might be right out there....
but, if that's the case, I shouldn't be the only one this is happening too...
Hmm. I'm thinking blaming mushrooms growing in the woods on my athletes feet.
I hiked with a fellow who thought he had an ear infection. He tried treating it with over the counter meds but it kept bothering him. He finally went to a clinic in PA an found out he had a massive buildup of ear wax.
More walking, less talking.
Well, I'm thinkin, mushrooms are a fungus, and if conditions are right for mushrooms to grow, ergo conditions are right for other types of funguses, (more properly known as fungi), and I have a fungus infection, then - I mean ergo - it was likely walking around in those conditions what did it! RIGHT???
Err, well, not really.
That's kinda like saying, "Well, I'm thinkin, trees are a plant, and if conditions are right for plants to grow, ergo conditions are right for other types of plants, (more properly known as vegitation), and I have a tree growing, then - I mean ergo - it was likely I was walking around in those conditions what did it!"
You're ear fungus and your favorite forest floor fungus are not even as related as trees are to other plants and the conditions they grow in are obviously very different also unless you've been shoveling dirt and tree roots into your ears. Fun and interesting thought until you appreciate the diversity of fungi, which is pretty amazing.
I'm not lost. I'm exploring.
Yeah. And canaries are way different than people. Still, they both need certain similar conditions in order to thrive. For example, oh, oxygen. I hear miners used to take canaries into the mines, and if the canary died, the miner knew to get out!
And on a forest floor, there will be diverse plant life. You might have, I don't know, a Georgia Pine over here and a blackberry bush over there. They are WAY different. Still, they will share the need for certain common conditions - temperatures, soil, rainfall....
So - back to my theory. Yes, ear fungus is way different than forest mushrooms. (DUH). But - they are both fungi, and if conditions are ripe for one to be able to grow, it still might mean - diverse though they may be- conditions would be ripe for the other.
So, that was my theory. And I figure those conditions are likely pretty prevalent on the AT. So, I was thinking that if I was correct, then you guys would be saying, "yeah, we get these infections a lot out here" - but that doesn't seem to be the case. So that tells me my theory has a fly in the ointment!
(hmm... I just remembered something from my youthful days. I think they told me cow dung was a good place to find certain types of mushrooms)...hmm...
Remember what the door mouse said
Do you need some manscaping?
Jefals
I wasn't and did not mean to make light of your ear problem, but many times in this forum people come in asking for medical advice. I have yet to meet a medical doctor in here or see one post answer. I do have my MBA but that don't mean di*k squat on the trail.
I making light of what DW was saying about mushrooms. Sorry if you thought is was directed towards yourself.
Blackheart