Old growth Patch, Poison ivy removal: Digging out the roots

Old growth, invassive patch of poison ivy along a road in Epping, NH, approximately 10ft by 280ftukpp. Using garden forks to loosen the ground, followed by additional digging with a pick axe to dig out and remove poison ivy to a tarp to be taken away.

[@mcsmama]

Hi Pete, I'd love some tips about trying to remove poison ivy running long lengths on the ground between a row of 6 or 8 Leyland Cyprus trees that cover about a 20 foot run. The ivy roots are dipping down in between all the cyprus tree roots.
It's relatively early in the poison ivy plant's growth, so the patches aren't too dense yet, but it runs over about a 20 foot area in length. The roots of the Cyprus trees are large & I am trying to use a trenching shovel & a garden fork to dig between those tree roots, but the ground is hard & even the fine tendrils of the poison ivy roots are diving under the big cyprus tree roots. Normally, I try to catch the poison ivy plants early, before they get any maturity, so I can dig every little bit out before it gets too deep or to entangled with surrounding plant roots. I really hate tearing any portion of the PI roots, knowing they will just send up new shoots again & make me start all over.
Do you have any tips for how to get the fine root tendrils of the poison ivy out from beneath the thick roots of an entire row of healthy cyprus trees?
ALSO: I'm ashamed to be so overwhelmed when I see what you work with every day, but I'm terrified of this stuff, terrified to track any into the house, terrified to end up with any residual urushiol oil in my washer that will contaminate subsequent loads of clothes (I can only get cold water in my washer). And I am most terrified that I will miss cleaning a spot & then get any of this oil on my tiny little innocent Rodent pet, as she would never allow herself to be given a bath, & she is too tiny & fragile to tolerate rubbing her furry little body firmly.🐭🐁
Also, I can't figure out how to wash up my arms & hands outside, then have to handle my contaminated clothes, especially my shoes, & try to carry it all somewhere to prevent re-touching everything, & STILL, having to re-wash my arms, & now feet, without leaving an entire trail of contamination behind me & into the inside of my house. I'd love to see you do some slow, methodical videos showing each step of how you disrobe the outer layers of clothes & shoes, show exactly where you put them, show how you enter your house without contaminating everything you pass or walk over, how you deal with the washer, without touching knobs or whatever until you hands are clean, etc... I would love to hear & see a full decontamination video with very minute details.
I would also appreciate details on how much of your body you are scrubbing once you disrobe (is it only the hands, arms, neck, face, & feet that have to get the FULL TWO-scrub friction-wash treatment, & then the rest of you just gets a gentle soap off & rinse, or are you scrubbing & friction rubbing off the urushiol oil as if it is on every minute part of your body? I'm struggling with this b/c my skin is so sensitive & reactive even to harsh or scented soaps, let alone urushiol.
Sorry this is so long, & I appreciate very much seeing how you actually work with removing the PI in the field, but I think many of us desperately need to see the STEP BY STEP DECONTAMINATION PROCESS to learn how to prevent transfer, & to learn what exactly is needed to fully decontaminate our bodies. I'm not asking to invade your privacy or violate your modesty, but I sure would appreciate some detail to help us be safe. Thanks so much. God bless!😇
[6.17.2024] [com1, 28vw; vid dated 6.15.2024]

[@meeker03]

Go, Pete, Go!!!