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1. 

   Scareman
   Member

   Well I finished my first EC this year and my fingers and hands look real nice now. The calloused skin is starting to slough off. I am using skin repair creams to minimize injuries to my wife and kids from my molting hands and fingers.

   My hands were in great shape after the EC. I used some NRS gloves, but I wished that I had brought my winter paddling gloves for this EC.

   I am grateful to OneEyedJake and BarksAtWaves for sharing their hand creams with me during the EC. I especially enjoyed the fragrant cream that OEJ used, which he bought per KiwiBird's recommendation.

   How are your fingers, hands, feet, and toes?

   Posted 7 years ago #
2. 

   GatorBaitsMate
   Member

   Both of us 150 mile drop outs are experiencing the same. Mine are on their third molt.  In training, we were doing thirty and forty milers and never had this happen. I also had sores on all my lips and inside my mouth, and thinking possibly the "red tide"?.. We used hand cream in training as well as the event

   Jack

   Posted 7 years ago #
3. 

   CaptnChaos
   Member

   Glad to know it's just not me.   Before I dnf''d my hands had swollen up so much I couldn't get my primary set of gloves on and the backup pair took 10 minutes to get on.  Every day for the last week my fingers have been peeling bad after getting out of the shower in the morning.  I was even thinking about taking a shower with rubber gloves on today so it doesn't happen again.

   Posted 7 years ago #
4. 

   CleanSlate
   Member

   I fared better physically during the 2013 EC than I did in last year's NCC.  That was probably due to that NCC being my first watertribe event and needing to paddle much more than I was use to.  I attribute my good fortunes for the 2013 EC to being able to sail most of it (fairly fast) and avoiding some chaffing problems I experienced in the NCC.  Although, had this years EC had no wind, I might have DNF or ended up a physical wreak. The weather for this year's EC worked well for me.

   Posted 7 years ago #
5. 

   KiwiBird
   Member

   The fingers/hand swelling is definitely something to be expected by the kayakers. I always leave my ring at home, and it takes a day or two to be able to slip it back on again.

   I find the molting ususlly kicks in ten or so days after the event. I started noticing it more so yesterday. Just another sweet reminder of your EC experience.

   My hands and feet were in their best shape ever this year. But I did spend less time in the boat than previous years, with the winds kicking us down the coast. The only night I reached camp after dark (and sometimes even got to bed before dark!) was the last night, when we camped half-way across Flamingo Bay, and that wasn't particularly late. I believe that gave my hands and feet more rest time.

   That being said, looking after these body parts, with your rear end, is, for a kayaker, one of the key aspects of enjoying an EC or not, or perhaps even finishing or not. Taking the time every evening to clean and dry out your bum and feet (and under your breasts for the women), with wet ones and baby powder, and then use something like Desitin on your bum every morning, and rub something like Joshua Tree Paddler's Salve into your feet every evening--and also into your hands every evening--will make all the difference. (You'll also smell that much better!)

   I prefer not using gloves--tends to keep your hands that much wetter. I have a bit of Hydropel left, so use that off and on during the day, with Joshua Tree. As soon as I feel I'm getting a hot spot, I wrap a bit of water proof tape around the area--usually my left thumb by day 6. And removing that tape as soon as you hit the beach each day is also important.

   KB

   Posted 7 years ago #
6. 

   CaptShallowwater
   Member

   My fingers mysteriously started peeling which I first blamed on cleaning up my workshop handling several cans of various chemicals.Couldn't find any suspects and the area of peeling didn't seem right.I decided if it got up to my first knuckle (which it did yesterday) I better see a dr. My wife has started teesing me with lepracy jokes. Went swimming in the gulf yesterday . Used sunblock before and after and now seems to be inproving. Now thinking red tide? Did not do any rowing or paddling but spent seven days handling sheetlines with cold wet fingers.

   Posted 7 years ago #
7. 

   BustedRudder
   Member

   Not a single blister during and no molting after. No gloves, they only keep your hands wet and set you up for blisters. Aquaphor applied to pits, butt and by default your hands. Feels greasy for the first hour but then you can actually start getting dry hands. If a wet day they will not get (as) waterlogged. After the EC I will use neosporin as a hand cream a couple of times.

   If you tend to get big callouses, use one of those thingies women get to sand their feet or feels. Big thick callouses like to rip adjoining skin. (learned this rowing crew)

   Have always worn crocks. For the cold wore thin neoprene booties under which kept feet warm but by Key Largo were rather funky.

   Aside from a sore wrist this was my healthiest EC to date.

   Posted 7 years ago #
8. 

   OneEyedJake
   Member

   It's very interesting that fingers are shedding on a similar time schedule. Mine have started in the last few days. I'm also going to lose a thumbnail and a fingernail.  I used neoprene gloves and my hands also swelled. Mornings I used http://www.jtreelife.com/products/paddlers-salve  as recommended by Kiwibird. Didn't use it at night because I was afraid that the native wildlife would view the scent as food and I would awaken minus fingers or toes. Still have some numbness in toes.

   Posted 7 years ago #
9. 

   Danito
   Member

   I had trouble with sunburn on the top side of my palms due to my own fault. I missed placed my sunscreen and never found it. No blisters on my palms or fingers from paddling.

   I did however have an issue with blister on my heels. Bloody blisters at that.  next year I will bring extra socks, use more padding on the bottom of my kruger and take care of my feet as soon as I camp.

   Danito

   Posted 7 years ago #
10. 

    DeadCat
    Blocked

    My fingers have been molting for about a week now.  For the EC, I used 3/4-finger paddling gloves 100% of the time and Pogies most of Days 1, 2, 3 and the early part of Day 6.  I only had 1 blister on the middle of my left hand, middle finger but it was tiny and did not pop.  I applied something like Desitin on my bum, pits and waist each morning and never had the 1st hint of a rash.  I paddled barefoot or sometimes (when too cold) I wore fleece socks (but kept my paddle booties close by); my feet stayed dry and, again, I did not have the first hint of any issue.  For comfort, I've rubber cemented in some closed cell foam padding on my rudder pedals and the floor of my kayak where my heels rest.  Seems to work great!  Biggest problem for me were my lips but by Day 2 I learned how to config 2 UV buffs such that only my eyes were exposed.  This was great protection from sun, wind, salt, bugs, and any poor soul that dared get within viewing distance of me!

    DeadCat

    Posted 7 years ago #
11. 

    lugnut
    Member

    My fingers have peeled most years, I assume from the constant wet. This year was fairly dry and only my fingertips are peeling. Only exception was last year, which was also my wettest year. The difference was probably some gloves Wingnut knitted me from some special wool. It wasn't completely unprocessed, but it still had a lot of lanolin. I wore them 2 or 3 days and had no problems peeling. Had the gloves with me this year, but was saving them for extreme conditions that we never had, so never wore them.

    Lugnut

    Posted 7 years ago #

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