[pct-l] Mosquitoes

[Diane at Santa Barbara Hikes dot com]

On Oct 3, 2008, at 8:31 PM, pct-l-request at backcountry.net wrote:

> Subject: [pct-l] Mosquitoes

I'm reminded of a conversation I had with a couple of guys on the  
trail. We were discussing techniques for pooping in mosquito country.

- My technique was to squat and fan myself and be quick about it.
- One of the other guys would dig his hole at night before he went to  
bed so it would be all ready for him in the morning. He could go  
quickly before the mosquitos found him.
- The other guy said he digs his hole, then walks about 10 feet away  
and waits for the mosquitos to find him. Then he runs back to his  
hole and does his business as quickly as possible before they find  
him again.

Anyway, for general mosquito protection, long pants and sleeves and a  
head net work wonders. I didn't have any particular brand of any of  
these items. I was amazed at how few people had head nets. I would be  
hiking along in my head net and boy scouts, paragons of  
unpreparedness for actual conditions, would be slapping their necks  
and eyeing me with envy.

My last defense, or rather my refuge, was my tent. It was the only  
way I could eat dinner in peace. Oh how I loved the safety of my  
tent! Finally I could sit and relax, all those mosquitos frustrated  
and unable to reach me.

Oh, and if you can tolerate one more story from me. I have rarely  
been "back east". I have heard horror stories about mosquitos there.  
And people from there who come "out west" are so envious of our  
relatively bug-free lives. Anyway, I finally went back east a few  
years ago to Long Island in the summer. I was visiting with some  
family and sitting outside in the hot tub when one lone mosquito  
started buzzing around the group. I swatted him away but he flew over  
to the others. Finally someone noticed him and everyone screamed.  
Mosquitos! The all got out of the hot tub declaring that the fun was  
over and went inside. I remained outside and hardly saw more than  
about 3. So if that's what you east-coasters think constitutes  
mosquitos, yes, they are much worse on the PCT. Imagine swarms.

~Piper