The Right Step
A monthly newsletter from the Lambda Hiking Club for and
about its members and the environment.
VOLUME 1, NUMBER 9. JANUARY 2001
NOTICE:
If you wish to receive a paper copy of this
newsletter via the US mail, please contact the club treasurer (Sye) or the
newsletter editor (David, 583-7064 or [email protected]).
PLANNED ACTIVITIES:
Saturday, January 6
Snowshoeing
in Millcreek Canyon. Cost: $8 to rent snowshoes.
Saturday, January 20
Bowling!
Cost: approximately $10
Coming in February...
Indoor
rock climbing (if we can find a cheaper place this time)
and
another fun social event
For all outdoor winter activities please bring
the essentials: warm, waterproof clothing (remember to dress in layers!), warm
waterproof footwear, gaiters, water, thermos with hot drink, sack lunch, winter
hat and gloves, sunscreen, chapstick, and sunglasses.
Check out our updated web site with NEW member pictures at www.gayhike.org
DON'T
DRINK THE WATER!
A true story by Randy Burks
One sunny autumn
afternoon Steve, a supporter of Lambda Hiking Club, took a leisurely jaunt up
Cardiff Fork in Big Cottonwood Canyon. This trail shoots off from Donut Falls.
The day was beautiful, the grass was green, the sky was clear, and the water
was cold. Steve knew about the dangers of bad water but still suffered an
infection. He stopped at the stream halfway up the canyon in order to wash his
hands. He dried them off on his Levis and promptly opened up a Cliff Bar and
took a bite.
Further up the
trail where the mine tailings and structures are located he found a rotting
deer carcass dismembered and bloated in the stream. Scat was everywhere. The
animal had been poached and left for other animals to devour. Steve was worried
when he saw this. And sure enough, two weeks later he was suddenly attacked by
horrific diarrhea, night sweats, and a growing fever.
He promptly went
to the doctor to discover what malady he had inadvertently contracted only to
find that two organisms were laying waste to his system. He had contracted
geardia, (ha, if only Word knew how to spell that!) a rather common parasite
found in all natural water sources in Utah, and he had also become infested by
an amoebae (entamoebic infection). This amoebic infection was in the process of
laying its eggs by producing cysts throughout his blood stream thus increasing
the population of the organisms in his body.
If he had not
sought medical treatment as early as he had, he would have been dead in 2 to 3
weeks! This amoebae is usually found in third world countries and is considered
rare in our area. Steve had to report it to Poison Control for their data and
research, for such a possible epidemic could be lethal to the population of
Utah.
A steady regimen
of a series of antibiotics had to be taken regularly for a month and a half in
order to rid his body of these dangerous intruders.
He did not
purposefully drink the water. The only possibility of infection that he knows
of might have come from contaminated hands or food. Steve is not stupid about
this issue. He knew what to do, he knew what the symptoms were, and he knew
what actions to take and yet there are still people who think that it will not
happen to them.
It cannot be
stressed strongly enough: DO NOT DRINK STRAIGHT FROM
ANY WATER SOURCE WITHIN THE STATE OF UTAH! Water must be filtered
appropriately or heated at a rolling boil for half an hour. Other animals have
digestive tracts and immune systems that make it possible for them to drink
water from natural sources. We do not possess these physical traits. I hope
Steve's experience can spare my gentle readers from much pain and expense. Once
again, DON'T DRINK THE WATER!
For more information about the Lambda Hiking Club or any of its
activities or to submit articles/suggestions:
Call - (801) 532-8447
E-mail - [email protected]
Visit - www.gayhike.org
Or write to: Randy Burks 627 E 100 S
#D SLC UT 84102