People who are allergic to yellow jackets should see an allergist. It is possible to be immunized for insect stings. I was allergic to yellow jackets, wasps, and hornets. After 13 years of injections given to me by my allergist I am now protected from these stings. I am a hiker who has logged more than 2500 miles, mostly in the Smoky Mtns. But I have hiked 252 miles of the AT.
bodavis
On the west coast trail we used several connecting trails that were closed due to yellow jacket nests. We knew we would not be stung, because we moved very slowly and with full complete awarness. But at one point I almost lost focus and it was right next to the blasted hive. Since my body was exposed and aware I soon sensed them and watched them for a while around their groud-layer nest. Fasinating!
Tha Wookie
One of the benefits of walking slowly on the AT is the opportunity to be aware of what is on the trail. This is more difficult if large mileage is the goal. Slow walking allows a person to observe the fauna, foliage, and the Yellow Jackets. What I have seen is that the YJs are busy during the daylight hours and are constantly flying out and into their nest. If one looks ahead on the trail they are usually visible but that doesn’t mean that the method is foolproof. BTW Airferret, I appreciated your offering of the difference between the two species of flying stinging insects – the bees and the wasps.
Skylander