Final week, a lady who was part mountaineering the John Muir Path required rescue after she mysteriously misplaced feeling in her legs and couldn’t proceed her trek.
In an announcement posted to Fb, Inyo County Search & Rescue (SAR) says the hiker had modified her thoughts about authentic hike and was on Taboose Cross Path (her nearest exit out of the Sierra Nevada), when she took a short detour to the creek to refill on water. Whereas filling up, the lady informed Inyo County SAR that she thinks one thing bit her, probably a spider.
Shortly afterward, the lady couldn’t really feel the pores and skin on her legs. She referred to as for assist, after which her telephone battery died. It was late at evening, however assist got here promptly.
“Inyo SAR assembled a crew in Bishop and drove the tough street as much as Taboose trailhead,” the announcement reads. “The rescuers pushed a wheeled litter up for about 1.5 mi, then stashed it when the path grew to become too tough to securely proceed with a litter for the final quarter mile. After assessing the affected person, the rescuers slowly walked her down the tough part of the path whereas making certain her security with ropes, then transferred her into the wheeled litter the place the path grew to become steady.”
Taboose Cross Path is in Inyo Nationwide Forest, close to California’s Kings Canyon Nationwide Park.
What’s With the Numb Leg Pores and skin, Although?
Although the official announcement didn’t give any extra element concerning the lady’s mysteriously numb leg pores and skin, Inyo County SAR stated in a remark reply: “We don’t know what bit her and if she bought bitten in any respect (there’s stinging nettle, too).”
Seems, the particular person from Inyo County SAR who left that remark might have been on to one thing. A consultant from the group informed PEOPLE that whereas they nonetheless don’t know for positive, they believe that stinging nettles stung the hiker, not a spider.
Nettle stings irritate the pores and skin, and reactions differ relying on the person. Widespread signs of contact with stinging nettle embody burning, tingling, or stinging sensations, white or pink spots, and raised bumps. This hiker might have had a extra extreme allergic response to the plant, leaving the pores and skin on her legs feeling numb and tingly.
