Planning on thru hiking hopefully in 2008. Im starting to figure out gear and stuff. After reading several journals and suggested gear articles I noticed there wasnt anything about mosquitos and other such bugs. Are they not a big problem on the trail? If you chose to use a hammock do you need a bug net? And is bug spray a necessity or do you just live with the annoyance?
Stone skin
Lots of factors come into play…time of year, amount of rain, terrain (swampy, etc). I carry 100% DEET and use it when needed. On my 06 thru-hike, June/July was really rainy & I was running from the mosquitoes in NY,CT,MA. You may want to carry (or add to your bounce box) a bug net (6 oz. from campmor) if you sleep in shelters. There’s nothing worse than swarming mosquitoes on a hot night in a shelter.
Another thing to think about is diet & hygene. If you eat ramps (thanks Sourdough) in the South or garlic, bugs tend not to bite. Also being a really dirty & smelly hiker tends to hold off the little buggers.
Orangeman
They are a problem much of the time, but the 100 mile wilderness in Maine and Massachusettes seem to be the worst. You’ll need a bug net with your hammock and, as Orangeman said, carry some 100% deet with you. Some people seem to be able to live with it, but most of us need help. I’ve tried eating a lot of garlic, helps IF you are hiking with others who don’t use it, but when you’re alone doesn’t seem to help at all.
Bear Bag Hanger
Bear Bag Hanger, Yoo must be talking about a SOBO hike because by the time NOBOs get to Maine the bug season is pretty much over. Maine in June/July can be pretty miserable though. As mentioned above NJ to MA seems to be the worst. I put on DEET when I can’t take it anymore as I have a low threshold for the little bastards but my brother does not seem to be bothered by them and will just sit there while they swarm around him.
Big B
Hey Stone Skin, as long as your hammock seals up all the way around, you shouldn’t need a bug net. I still remember waking up in my henessey every morning to see 3 or 4 of those frustrated little buggers flying around the mesh screen. Just make sure that you don’t end up sleeping on part of the mesh itself as mosquitoes can still stick their proboscis through.
m.o.a.t.
I didn’t have to use my deet until Massachusetts. I did have to use a head net a couple of times in shelters. That was reason enough to sleep in my tent and listen to the sound of millions of skeeters trying to get in but for the couple that came in with me I was safe from bites.
Sleeveless AT '05
Sleeveless
I spend the entire spring/summer/fall outside in Maine and have come up with the following system to fend off the little b’stards; Natural citronella rubbed into the skin keeps them at bay for a while. Those sheets that you put into the dryer with your clothes also work, i usually rub one around the rim of my hat and then tuck it into my hat rim. The other thing that is sure fire is the head/body net. If you wear a wide brimmed hat you can wear the head/body combo and get away with wearing a t-shirt. It can be hot in there if you are working hard.
The other interesting bug fact came from a recent study. It’s about hormones we secrete and how bugs are attracted to them. Unfortunately women do attract the little buggers more than men, and also those who are stressed out by the bugs. In a controlled test two guys put their hands into a glass tank full of mosquitos. Each of their hands was available to be bitten via a glass “Y”, so the bugs had to make a decision. They went for the guy who was far more stressed out about being bitten. The guy who couldn’t care less did get bitten, but only by one or two, where as the other poor guy had the things all over him.
So, if you don;t let it get to you, you should have a better time of it. Oh yeah, and eat lots or Marmite, bugs hate that stuff.
Cheers - Hiker/farmer
Cheers