XPD Australia
The Stinging Trees Strike .... Ouch!
Geoff Hunt (AR World Series Director) / 20.05.2010
We have just arrived at Ravenshoe and it resembles a Mash unit. Some of the toughest men in adventure racing are being reduced to near tears by the pain from the stinging tree. As the teams proceeded along the last stage in the Misty Mountains all have been hit hard by this wicked tree.The treatment can be even worse - hydrochloric acid applied to the affected areas - in some cases the entire legs, the arms, the hands. It is applied to carefully laid toilet paper - to maintain maximum contact with the skin …
The hydrochloric acid breaks down the silicon tubes that hold the poison - but the pain of this happening is even worst that the sting. Benjamin Midena of Merrell/Akali said; “This is the worst thing I have ever struck in all my years of adventure racing.�
I do what I can - everyone is - tea , a hand to hold, removing socks and leeches - the floor is covered in patches of blood from the leeches.
The worst seems to be over now for this group as after the acid is applied - the waxing strip is applied and pulled off time and time again to try and remove the silicon capsules. Those with bare legs fare best - for those with hairy legs it is double torture.
Blackheart.com.au has left now. They are first away so the pressure is on the other teams to leave as well - and us - as we have to get to the Stannary Hill C.P. before the first teams to issue the orienteering maps
For now.See All Event Posts
