I got what the Dr. later told me was blood poisoning on one trip.

I got a high fever and chills one afternoon and felt lousy. I got in my bag in the tent and held still for the next 12 hours or so. There was a point (just like in the movies) where my fever broke and I started to feel better.

I kept a pencil and paper near me. Whenever I thought of something that bothered me I wrote it down. I didn't want anything diverting my healing energy and by writing it down it was out of my head.

Next day I walked out and noticed in the motel that there was a red stripe going up my leg toward my groin. At the lower end of the stripe there was a pin sized hole.

Dr said I got bit or poked, developed an infection and my body was able to stop it at the lymph nodes located in my groin. He also told me that I might have died if it got past my lymph nodes. He put me on heavy antibiotics to make sure it didn't start up again.

Lessons from this? Stop if I feel lousy. Check my body over for clues. See a doctor if you have any doubt what is going on.