High Sierra Topix

"What Will Be Your Mosquito Avoidance Techniques in 2012?"
Avoid the Sierra until at least mid-July.

AlmostThere wrote:...The mosquitoes were biting me through the heavy nylon/cotton blend of 5.11 tactical pants, on the knees, when I was sitting down to tie on a lure. I was wearing my SAR uniform last weekend.
They also bit through my wool socks, just at the tops of my shoes. Under the cuffs of the pants.
They also bit through the shirt I was wearing, just under the edge of the backpack. I found a trio of red raised spots there...

Yeah if one wears cotton one ought be careful. Actually I often wear some cotton, my Levi blue jeans. And with several dozen sitting on your pant leg, if one has worn any thin spots enough that their probosci can reach through, they may indeed get yeah. Learned that myself in Emigrant Basin as a twentysomething so ever since if I'm going to be out at sqeet time as I often am, then I make a point of checking my pants. If there are any thin spots, then some construction grade duct tape here and there. I bought a pair of one of those synthetic $50 REI cargo pants a few years ago and it just took a single trip to wear thin spots on the seat and knees. The last pair this crosscountry granite rambler will waste money on unless there is a reinforced product so went back to blue jeans. I've read some have had success wearing heavier tight weave cotton shirts. OK as long as that works. Cotton in warmer weather of course can get sweaty soaked wet.

So decades ago carrying my heavy packs we went to wearing up top nylon shells. Like usual nylon fabrics have a weave so tight even though they are very thin that mosquitoes simply cannot poke their probosci through. And nicely nylon won't soak up sweat and quickly dries off. Get one with elastic cuffs and waist, quality front zip and zippered side pockets. Nice thing about the front zip is even if one hikes with a pack on with the front unzipped leaving a bare chest ( just we guys), even if one does not put any juice on, mosquitoes rarely will land there while moving which is great for evaporation. Often would buy one of those runners warmup shells or whatever. Unfortunately in the 90s manufacturers got it in their design heads that all such clothing had to also be waterproof so the bulk fabric they use is also today almost always coated. That will of course make them even more squeeter proof though it also makes the nylon a bit less breathable. Some may wonder if wearing nylon so is a bit uncomfortable versus cotton? Believe me when lugging a big pack, that never enters my awareness.

OK here is the most important piece of anti mosquito clothing.

http://www.amazon.com/Supplex-Mens-Cool ... ywords=Sun" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Although the Amazon vendor is selling it for $28, Big 5 Sporting Goods often stocks it and recently was on sale for $20 thus one might want to phone your local store.

In my above post the pic shows me wearing that hat. With that hat on fully, there simply is little for squeeters to attack where they want to land. Why is this particular sun hat with a neck drape any better than other such hats? Well the biggest difference is the neck drape is velcro attached so can be removed. OK why would one want to remove the drape? During warmer hiking when there are few mosquitoes and one is sweating. Also drapes covering ears reduce sound a bit that can be somewhat annoying if one is trying to listen quietly to nature. One can also attach the velcro more or less forward so it fully covers one's ears or is in back of the ears. What's the big deal with that? Well the number one thing that squeeters home in on is EARS. Out in the wilderness, a lot of critters have ears that don't have the usual heavy duty fur coat protection and often just bare skin. The other most likely place squeeters land is the back of the neck. There is also velcro at the front tip of the drape that can bring the two tips together in front for even better protection by closing the drape together closer to the ears.

Squeets also are very aware of critter eyes and naturally will go to the other side of a head where a critter cannot see to set up their dinner table. Thus the back of the neck is the next most likely place a squeeter will land. Many sun hats simply have too short of neck drapes so squeets may find a way under the drape to get to a neck. This hat has a sizeable drape.

There is also a cordlock draw cord in front that can be useful for those that take their hat on and off a lot like this photographer. If one does not want to use the draw cord, it may be folded up and tucked away in the back.

The hat bill is rather large as this is primarily a sun jungle hat. The hat material is supplex nylon so dries off quickly. Also the sides of the top are mesh to improve breathability.

Heading up to the Big Pine Lakes area this weekend. This is only my 3rd backpacking trip, and my 1st during peak mosquito season. All of my outer clothes, hat, headnet, pack etc are treated with permethrin. I wear long pants, & will treat all exposed skin with 100% deet. The forecast looks to be windy, so perhaps that will help!

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I'm taking Army ACUs that are treated with permethrin. In addition, my partner has some DEET leftover from his deployment to Afghanistan. I figured these, as well as a glove/headnet combo will keep us from being too miserable.
We're also planning on making camp away from water whenever possible.

I'm also going to use Wandering Daisy's tip on spraying my back's sweaty bits..

20% Picaridin solutions, such as (the newer version of) Natrapel. Repel also makes some 20% Picaridin solutions.

If Picaridin has not worked for you in the past, consider that most Picaridin solutions till recently have only had a 7.5% concentration. Try the 20%.

I have found that the Picaridin 20% works far better than any of the other natural solutions. It also works against horse flies and ticks - better than DEET.

DEET no more. That is nasty, toxic stuff. DEET into our fragile Sierra waterways = not LNT.

- Elizabeth

For both bugs and sun, I prefer long clothing to chemicals. Long sleeve shirt+pants+headnet. I"ll apply DEET to my hands to they don't get bit. If bug pressures are very high I will apply DEET to my clothing.

I too rely on clothing and use DEET when they are just annoying me by buzzing me constantly.

I picked up a pair of gloves by outdoor research called Versaliner, and they come with rain liners that I have found to be great mosquito protection from the hands without being heavy are too hot to wear.

Daisy has it right again--garden gloves--I bought 3 pair for $4.50 at Sierra Trading Post. Not only good for skeeters but as sunprotection as well (which is really why I bought them). Used them for the first time during a May transierra Ski trip back in 83.

Mike

REI Jungle Juice and my 12 gauge.