Just wondering - how carefully (if at all) do folks clean their gear (specifically stuff that carries dirt, including car, boots and tents) if they have been hiking or camping in areas known to have sudden oak death? Do you give it a rinse? Not bother? I've seen requests from park authorities to clean dirt off in that case to limit the spread of the disease, and like to be responsible, but not sure how much it really helps especially if most people don't bother.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

What species of oak? Are you talking about poison oak ?

Serious symptoms MAY INCLUDE ..


Swelling of the face, mouth, neck, genitals, or eyelids (which may prevent the eyes from opening).

Widespread, large blisters that ooze large amounts of fluid.

I live in sudden oak death areas and hike all over. Everyone I know doesn't bother and the only time I've actually bleached my shoes was after a research assignment on a field study on the effectiveness of prescribed burns/thinning of California bay to attempt to stop SOD. It's a beast of a problem that's not fully understood that's likely to cause functional extinction of tanoak in northern california and oregon.
Come to think of it I should start bleaching my shoes more often!

So far it's worst in Northern California but has been reported in SoCal. The East Coast is also at risk.

http://www.oakmapper.org/

Here is a set of recommendations for limiting the spread. This is what I was alluding to in the original post.

http://www.suddenoakdeath.org/diagnosis-and-management/sanitation-reducing-spread/

I'll punch an oak tree in it's face! If we were allowed to touch them here..
They're very protected where I live, so I doubt SOD can touch them. SOD would have to get a permit from the County & City first.
Visalia should have been named Oakland.. those damn trees are everywhere. And I love them!