Harpers Ferry - Hike to Lower Town - and Red Rash Recurrence

Thursday, November 15, we decided to take a long walk into Lower Town Harpers Ferry from our campground.  Total mileage was about 6 miles.  It was a cold day and, while we dressed warmly, as it turned out David didn't dress warmly enough.

We took the NPS path from Murphy's Farm, through the Visitor Center, and down the shuttle road.  Here is David at the bottom of the hill on the shuttle road in front of a little waterfall.

Not too much further along, Kathy found the world's largest maple leaf.

Part of our walk was along the great Shenandoah River - it runs deceptively shallow but has a strong current.

We strolled on into town and enjoyed poking around more into the historic houses and shops, and along Virginius Island, the site of extensive industrial works and workers' housing, which eventually was obliterated by floods.  The NPS has great site markers, and has unearthed original foundations, so it was possible, with the help of old photographs, to imagine how the area looked in the Civil War and afterward.

Some shops were open - for example a coffee house where Kathy picked up a hot chocolate.  David ordered a latte but didn't like his and discarded it.  The day was getting cold by now, and David should have taken some hot liquid.  But more on that later.

We also found a shop selling historic candies, and Kathy bought some for Kate and Carmen.  After this it was a walk straight home.  However, by the time we were getting near the campground, David was getting quite cold.  It became clear that he let his core get too cold.  This, coupled with the long walk, brought on a fever and chills and, ultimately, the same unknown red rash and swelling that occurred in July in Skowhegan, Maine.

David spent Friday recuperating and we researched the rash.  We have finally decided that it is Golfer's Vasculitis, which is an unexplained rash that affects one or both legs, typically below the knee and above the ankle, after long walks, usually in hot weather.  We believe that hot or cold weather is usually involved, along possibly with dehydration.  The combination causes one or more extremities to fight off disfunction and may trigger a histamine reaction - either due to past allergic exposures or due to the cell irritations from the combination of dehydration and hot/cold stress.  Anyway, the treatment is to walk or elevate.  No standing still or sitting with legs not elevated.  So David has been doing both, and it appears that that treatment strategy manages the condition.  We also think we understand what triggers it enough now that we know to avoid overheating or getting too cold, along with dehydration, on long walks.  By Wednesday, November 21, the condition had almost completely abated.  It would have disappeared earlier but for two weekend days of scheduled events that prevented elevating the foot.

We hope that this doesn't recur, but if it does, we're pretty confident we have it under control.