Chiggers on the PCT?

imported
#1

Reading about hiking out west and how there are ticks,skeeters, and poison oak, etc., and am wondering whether there are any Chiggers on the PCT ?? Down home here in the Sunshine State we have mean Chiggers, and I mean Chiggers with a capitol “C”. My hiker bride and prized hiker dog and I just spent three days and nights hikin’ in the Ocala NF; (New Year’s Eve) skeeters, nil,fierce onslaught of miserable ticks, but nothin’ holds a candle to the enduring Chiggerbite, worse than the Scabies of Maine that I caught nobo on the AT in '05.(and those were Scratchy.) Western folk, please advise,Chiggers and worse, or what ?? Muleskinner and Woodrose,westerbound PCT '07.Peace and Love and Happy new year, too.

Muleskinner

#2

I think they prefer to be called “chinese americans”.

yoda

#3

I never even heard of chiggers until I moved east. I’ve only run into them once - in Virginia - and they were bad.

One thing about poison oak - I don’t think it’s as toxic as poison ivy. My husband is highly allergic to poison ivy but was able to wander through the poison oak on the pct without much problem. Me too. Some rash - but nothing like the irritating itch of poison ivy exposure.

If you’re hiking with a dog you may have problems with ticks in southern California. Generally first person through the brush gets 'em.

Ginny

#4

When i was buying fish for my pond yesterday i saw a raincoat with a hood that you tied around your dogs neck and i would guess you could even cut a hole for the tail to stick out of… so with leather booties and a rain jacket your dog will be ready for the trail…
PS don’t tell anyone your bring a dog out to the PCT!

ed

#5

I’m a lifelong Californian, and don’t recall ever seeing or feeling a chigger. Ticks, yeah, but not as abundantly as in the NE. Poison Oak? I’ve never caught it, but if your pup runs through it and you pet the dawg, beware - you’ll get it everywhere you touch. Skeeters? Got them, too, but few in the desert and few in the mountains after August. Got bears, too, however…:slight_smile:

4wheelbob

#6

Thanks, folks, We are not bringing our old hiking dog, and ticks are not as bad as Chiggerbites which 4wheelbob reminds me are not as bad as bearbites. Speaking of which, when we were loading up on on Chiggers and ticks on our New Year’s hike in the Ocala NF, we had been seeing a lot of bear scats and claw marks on trees (cabbage palms and pines) Woodrose was hiking about seventy-five feet ahead when she came to a sudden halt; she and Bella standing stock still."Two biggest bears I’ve ever seen, first one must’ve been 500 lbs., " she wispered. We walked along a little further and came upon a steaming fresh pile, with a stack of bear logs 2 1/2 inches in diameter, biggest I’d ever seen too. Muleskinner:cheers

Muleskinner