How can climbers avoid poison ivy?

The scourge of many climbers, poison ivy is often a mystery to us. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve witnessed several climbers arguing amongst themselves at the crag over what is or what is not poison ivy. Three leaves someone says. Well, look around, every damn plant here has three leaves! To add fuel to the fire, I often like to interject “um, just what does poison oak look like?”

After the latest round of this confusion, I did some research and found this site simply titled Poison Ivy. Apparently, poison ivy can be different colors, have shiny or dull leaves, and grows in very different ways.

So, to answer the question posed in the title of this post, I have no idea now how to avoid this stuff. Suggestions?

Posted in Climbing Medicine, General