Backpacking Around Dangerous Bugs (Ticks, Mosquitoes, Spiders, Wasps)
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Also. one thing I would caution is applying any kind of lake, pond or any type of stagnant still waters to any open sores, cuts or bites like the spider bites shown in the video, because those waters carry bacteria that, if gotten into the open flesh, can cause a mass infection that could potentially cause permanent damage and even death. It has happened, so I'm super careful about that. Boiling water to disinfect it is a good option if those type of waters are your only option, however, using your drinking water for treatments like that are safer. Also, fast moving running water like rivers, I believe, are safe as well but I would still be a little cautious and grab the water coming off the rocks versus the water in the pool areas. I'm not a doctor but I know things from hearing and learning and of course experiences.
So yah, mud is a great resource and is always available so I just wanted to share that with you and others
Thanks for all your fantastic videos. I am enjoying them. I've always been an outdoors girl; I was born an outdoors girls. I have never been on a long backpacking trip, mainly because I was raising kids since I was 20 yrs old (actually even earlier because I was helping raise my niece and nephew before mine came, but have always wanted to. Because my love was being out in the woods, my kids did grow up in the outdoors on day hikes and primitive camping all their lives, so, though I've spent a good majority of our fun times outdoors I have this one absent feeling still lingering in me for the desire for overnight backpacking. My husband and I also hunt, so during that time, we do live the same way as if we were backpacking (almost) but the truck is still only a few miles away so its not completely the same and we always go back to the truck even if we do set up tent. Even so, I carry my backpack full as if backpacking, in the event we get stuck out there. Anyway, I am now inspired and craving the opportunity to some day be able to do a thru hike (before I get too old. It's not in our near future because my husband would not be able to take that much time off from work (he doesn't retire for another 8 1/2 years. This spring however, I am excited to say, my husband and I are planning to do a 3-5 day/night backpacking trip in our area here on the west coast. My kids have all been grown now for a few years, some even longer and we're enjoying adult children friendships and also grandkids; so now I feel like I have another life to live. I don't feel old at all yet; I actually feel really young and have the desired to live my life outdoors as much as possible, which we still do but not for long periods of time. Another adventurous journey I want to do is the same thing but by boat (our semi small fishing boat); travel and camp the Columbia across Oregon. Anyway, I could go on and on. Thank you so much for sharing your adventures but also for all your tips, tricks, information, and insights. Being that I haven't been previously familiar with all the lightweight gear, I'm thankful for your informational videos surrounding that. I have been purchasing some items a little at a time so I should have everything I will ever need when the time comes. It doesn't help that I'm a gadget junkie too; but an organized gadget junkie. :) (I can't help it; if its useful for me and makes things easier, I buy it)
Thank you again.
What are your next future plans?
Date: 2020-08-18
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Comments and reviews: 9
Matt
In my experience, Picaridin is only marginally better than essential oils or other natural repellents. In the Sierras, we get about 1-2 hours of effective use out of them vs most of the day with DEET. I'm pretty sure only European Honeybees are the only ones with barbed stingers so wasp & native bee stings are pretty mild by comparison since you only get a small dose of venom. It helps to recognize their warnings if you're getting close to the nest: Strike 1 -- being buzzed, especially near your face. Strike 2 -- head butting (ramming themselves into you. Strike 3 is the sting. It also helps to pay attention to buzzing of bees near the ground -- possibly indicating a ground nest or downed tree nest. Bears eat the hives (they like the brood) and once disturbed, the hive can be very defensive for many days after. Finally, carpenter ants -- if you cowboy camp or take a break, keep an eye out for their entrance holes. They'll crawl on you for a little while without much of a problem and then start biting. And it hurts! Sometimes, I'll zip up the bug bivy just for the ants.
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In my experience, Picaridin is only marginally better than essential oils or other natural repellents. In the Sierras, we get about 1-2 hours of effective use out of them vs most of the day with DEET. I'm pretty sure only European Honeybees are the only ones with barbed stingers so wasp & native bee stings are pretty mild by comparison since you only get a small dose of venom. It helps to recognize their warnings if you're getting close to the nest: Strike 1 -- being buzzed, especially near your face. Strike 2 -- head butting (ramming themselves into you. Strike 3 is the sting. It also helps to pay attention to buzzing of bees near the ground -- possibly indicating a ground nest or downed tree nest. Bears eat the hives (they like the brood) and once disturbed, the hive can be very defensive for many days after. Finally, carpenter ants -- if you cowboy camp or take a break, keep an eye out for their entrance holes. They'll crawl on you for a little while without much of a problem and then start biting. And it hurts! Sometimes, I'll zip up the bug bivy just for the ants.
reply
Alan
Living in Arkansas in the woods, and cutting firewood every year, I have had much experience with ticks and chiggers. To go on a wood-cutting foray into the woods, I would first use Avon Skin So Soft with a few drops of patchouli(a natural insect repellent) all over my body. Long pants and long sleeved light colored shirt, with my pant legs duct-taped at the ankles to keep the creepies from crawling up the inside of my pant legs. Then I would spray deet on my boots, pant legs, and sleeves. I smelled rather flowery, but I rarely got bit. On one occasion, I took a short hike in the woods, in September, without protection, and apparently stood on a chigger nest. I ended up with over 120 chigger bites on my left leg alone. Yes, Dixie, mosquitoes are little shits for sure, but I would rather have 10 mosquito bites instead of one chigger bite.
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Living in Arkansas in the woods, and cutting firewood every year, I have had much experience with ticks and chiggers. To go on a wood-cutting foray into the woods, I would first use Avon Skin So Soft with a few drops of patchouli(a natural insect repellent) all over my body. Long pants and long sleeved light colored shirt, with my pant legs duct-taped at the ankles to keep the creepies from crawling up the inside of my pant legs. Then I would spray deet on my boots, pant legs, and sleeves. I smelled rather flowery, but I rarely got bit. On one occasion, I took a short hike in the woods, in September, without protection, and apparently stood on a chigger nest. I ended up with over 120 chigger bites on my left leg alone. Yes, Dixie, mosquitoes are little shits for sure, but I would rather have 10 mosquito bites instead of one chigger bite.
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Lacey
My most recent backpacking trip, and my first ever during mosquito season, I sprayed my clothes with permethrin the night before the trip; what little skin showing, as I wear a long sleeve shirt and pants to avoid sun exposure, I sprayed picaradin on; I even wore a head net. So I thought I was doing pretty good. That is until the second day of my trip and I realized I had bites all over my hips and thighs from when they took advantage of me having to relieve myself when nature called. how do you all keep mosquitos from biting your behind! Help!
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My most recent backpacking trip, and my first ever during mosquito season, I sprayed my clothes with permethrin the night before the trip; what little skin showing, as I wear a long sleeve shirt and pants to avoid sun exposure, I sprayed picaradin on; I even wore a head net. So I thought I was doing pretty good. That is until the second day of my trip and I realized I had bites all over my hips and thighs from when they took advantage of me having to relieve myself when nature called. how do you all keep mosquitos from biting your behind! Help!
reply
Ben
If nothing else is immediately available, MUD/CLAY will help with stings and other ailments. It cools protects and acts as an astringent. I also use rubbing alcohol to kill numerous pests and their bites. The sooner you clean mosquito bites the less they will itch! Also, I've been told not to smash mosquitos as it just creates a bacterial mess all over the area. Better to swat or brush them away. Somewhere I've heard eating Zink, garlic, or strong spices will discourage bites.
reply
If nothing else is immediately available, MUD/CLAY will help with stings and other ailments. It cools protects and acts as an astringent. I also use rubbing alcohol to kill numerous pests and their bites. The sooner you clean mosquito bites the less they will itch! Also, I've been told not to smash mosquitos as it just creates a bacterial mess all over the area. Better to swat or brush them away. Somewhere I've heard eating Zink, garlic, or strong spices will discourage bites.
reply
Douglas
When I was very young. some 50 years ago. a friend of mine liked to let a mosquito bite him, but as soon as it locked on he would pinch his skin around the mosquito and create pressure until the mosquito would explode. He claimed that the bites never itched because the bug died before it could put it's saliva back into the bite. I saw him do it a few times and in fact the mosquito would explode. which was great fun for an 8 year old.
reply
When I was very young. some 50 years ago. a friend of mine liked to let a mosquito bite him, but as soon as it locked on he would pinch his skin around the mosquito and create pressure until the mosquito would explode. He claimed that the bites never itched because the bug died before it could put it's saliva back into the bite. I saw him do it a few times and in fact the mosquito would explode. which was great fun for an 8 year old.
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travel
In addition to taking a Benadryl pill to help with stings, you can also apply it directly to the sting. They make Benadryl cream. If you don't have that but have a tablet or gelcap, you can take a tablet and also crunch one up and put the paste on the sting or squeeze the gel from a gel cap directly onto the sting. It helps while you're waiting for the tablet dose to kick in.
reply
In addition to taking a Benadryl pill to help with stings, you can also apply it directly to the sting. They make Benadryl cream. If you don't have that but have a tablet or gelcap, you can take a tablet and also crunch one up and put the paste on the sting or squeeze the gel from a gel cap directly onto the sting. It helps while you're waiting for the tablet dose to kick in.
reply
Ray
Totally agree with you. I live in southern Oregon and do a lot of backpacking/ hiking in the Sky lakes wilderness known for its abundance of mosquitoes, i use a Thermo cell mosquito repellent and totally believe in their effectiveness. They don't work if you're movin but absolutely do when in camp. Most sceptics don't give enough time for them to work. But they do!
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Totally agree with you. I live in southern Oregon and do a lot of backpacking/ hiking in the Sky lakes wilderness known for its abundance of mosquitoes, i use a Thermo cell mosquito repellent and totally believe in their effectiveness. They don't work if you're movin but absolutely do when in camp. Most sceptics don't give enough time for them to work. But they do!
reply
Tony
Whenever we have been anywhere that there are mosquitoes, my wife swears by a product called AVON SKIN SO SOFT. It contains something that definitely deters mozzies. Not sure if it is available in other countries or, if it is known by the same name, but try it! It works for us whenever we have been in tropical conditions.
reply
Whenever we have been anywhere that there are mosquitoes, my wife swears by a product called AVON SKIN SO SOFT. It contains something that definitely deters mozzies. Not sure if it is available in other countries or, if it is known by the same name, but try it! It works for us whenever we have been in tropical conditions.
reply
Jack
Ace bandages wrapped around your boots and pants legs. Will keep them from crawling up your crotch.
When I go deer hunting I also use sports tape to wrap the area between my gloves and long sleeve shirt.
Throw on a balaclava and tuck it under neck collar. Then you have what I call your Battle suit on.
reply
Ace bandages wrapped around your boots and pants legs. Will keep them from crawling up your crotch.
When I go deer hunting I also use sports tape to wrap the area between my gloves and long sleeve shirt.
Throw on a balaclava and tuck it under neck collar. Then you have what I call your Battle suit on.
reply
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