Destination: Mattox Creek
Starting Location: Mill Creek Summit Ranger Station
Today’s Miles: 21.50
Trip Miles: 440.50
Mill Creek Summit Ranger Station (418.7, 4910) to Mattox Creek (440.2, 2685) ascent (3045) descent (5256)
I am writing this entry after the fact because May 26th ended fine but was pretty scary around 6:00 p.m. After a long but relatively uneventful day we decided to camp at Mattox Creek. Coastal moisture was moving in so we decided to set up our tents. During the process I noticed some ants in the area but was not concerned as we had been coexisting for a month. These ants, however, were unhappy with our camp selection and they bit/stung me seven times. I was not concerned and continued with my evening chores until I started getting a nauseous headache and the stings began to swell. I could tell I was having an allergic reaction so I took two benadryl and forgot about it.
When dinner came around I commented that I was really hot, and Liz noticed I was turning red from the chest up. Two minutes later my head went completely foggy, my vision blurred and I got nauseous. I took a big breath and told Liz to get my epi-pen (synthetic adrenaline) because “I am going fast”. Then I had a clear thought that I was going to die. The next thought was “you have to be !@&*! kidding me”. Then I went black. Next thing I remember was the team getting ready to inject and Liz wondering if they should remove my pants. Then I felt the benadryl kick in and started focusing on controlling my breathing and told them to hold off on the injection. Ten minutes later I was sitting up but I started shaking violently with chills. With help, I got into my sleeping bag, took another benadryl and tried to relax. Liz gave me a bagel to eat and the sting started to burn like a branding iron. I fell asleep in about an hour and when I woke up the next morning I felt as if I got hit by a bus. But Mattox Creek was not meant to be my final destination.
Destination: Mattox Creek
Starting Location: Mill Creek Summit Ranger Station
Today’s Miles: 21.50
Trip Miles: 440.50
Mill Creek Summit Ranger Station (418.7, 4910) to Mattox Creek (440.2, 2685) ascent (3045) descent (5256)
I am writing this entry after the fact because May 26th ended fine but was pretty scary around 6:00 p.m. After a long but relatively uneventful day we decided to camp at Mattox Creek. Coastal moisture was moving in so we decided to set up our tents. During the process I noticed some ants in the area but was not concerned as we had been coexisting for a month. These ants, however, were unhappy with our camp selection and they bit/stung me seven times. I was not concerned and continued with my evening chores until I started getting a nauseous headache and the stings began to swell. I could tell I was having an allergic reaction so I took two benadryl and forgot about it.
When dinner came around I commented that I was really hot, and Liz noticed I was turning red from the chest up. Two minutes later my head went completely foggy, my vision blurred and I got nauseous. I took a big breath and told Liz to get my epi-pen (synthetic adrenaline) because “I am going fast”. Then I had a clear thought that I was going to die. The next thought was “you have to be !@&*! kidding me”. Then I went black. Next thing I remember was the team getting ready to inject and Liz wondering if they should remove my pants. Then I felt the benadryl kick in and started focusing on controlling my breathing and told them to hold off on the injection. Ten minutes later I was sitting up but I started shaking violently with chills. With help, I got into my sleeping bag, took another benadryl and tried to relax. Liz gave me a bagel to eat and the sting started to burn like a branding iron. I fell asleep in about an hour and when I woke up the next morning I felt as if I got hit by a bus. But Mattox Creek was not meant to be my final destination.
Robert Francisco 
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