Hey all, I am in the middle of planning my 2005 hike…
Do I need DEET in the SoCal sections? If so, where?
(I will definately carry DEET through the Sierras and further north).
Thanks!
Victor
DEET... and where?
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#1
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#2
isnt deet one of the main ingrediants in cocacola?? 
forget the deet. its too corrosive and bad. look for some stuff called/made with neem. neem oil or neam cream based stuff…
this is a uk place http://www.neemco.co.uk/ but they might have links to get it in usa…
Bloody Cactus
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#4
ditto on the “Green Ban.” You can get it in a health food store. I’ve used it for years.
margie
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#5
I tested organic neem products from www.neemtreefarms.com along the Colorado Trail. Neem is really some awesome stuff, I’m glad to see it was brought up here.
Neem has tons of uses, including bug protection. In low to moderate situations, it is very effective. However, with EXTREME problems, I suggest bringing a small backup vile of DEET, even though the stuff is completely nasty.
A lot of it has to do with your body chemistry and psychology. Some people find neem works well all the time, others have problems still and must use Deet. A pity.
I highly advise trying out some neem.
Tha Wookie
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#6
I was long under the impression that DEET was horrible stuff and used it only with reluctance. However, as far as I’ve been able to determine by web searching, this is actually a MYTH!
The major claim against DEET is that it has caused seizures in children-- there are a several dozen reports of that. However, to put that in perspective, the EPA says that about 34% of the children in the US use DEET annually-- so those are a few dozen incidents out of something like a BILLION applications. It isn’t clear that the association isn’t just random.
The best source I could find was this monster EPA report. You can form your own opinion.
http://www.epa.gov/REDs/0002red.pdf
Eric
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#7
Start carrying DEET around Kennedy Meadows. Only had a few nights prior to that with any skeeter problems. The sierras can be insane. I literally had an infamous swat where I wiped out about 20. No lie! They seem to tapper off near northern CA but are right back once you hit OR. All the lack of running water (alot of small ponds) in OR make for some nasty times. So pretty much pick up at KM and carry all the way to the end. DEET 100% or you’ll regret it.
Pepper PA
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#8
Don’t even consider hiking north of KM without DEET. The mozzies will make you insane. DEET is the only thing that works.
yogi
yogi
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#9
Or better yet, hike with somebody that breathes out a lot of CO2, the skeeters will be drawn to them like moths to a candle ha ha
RockyTrail
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#10
or you could just hike with me. those mosquitos don’t get too much chinese food up in them thar hills…:lol
zero
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#11
Thanks for the responses… between this post and my post on the PCT-L, I think I found the answers I was looking for.
Victor