[pct-l] Mosquitos- How bad are they really on the PCT?

[Stephen]

the severity of skeeters variesfrom year to year, from only problematic in 
certain areas to swarming and following along behind you and riding on your 
pack, hat and so forth.  Elevation, melt off, and seasonal standing water 
etc all factor in.  The worst I've seen the skeets in the Sierra has been 
early July.  I've been bit up pretty good in the Lassen area also.  I've met 
PCT hikers bit up pretty good down at Vidette Meadows north of Forrester a 
couple times mid June.  Folks are coming throught the Sierra pretty early 
season so it really depends howmuch snow pack is left and average daily 
temps. Once the hatch starts it can get pretty bad within a week.  If 
getting bit up pretty goodby Forrester or just beyond Rae Lakes on the north 
side of Glen is a Skeeter pit.  Better safe than sorry if you can add some 
kind of net toyour shelter and if the skeeters arepissed theonly thing that 
works is deet or clothing, and I've been bit through my shoes, two layers of 
clothing and socks.  Nylon travel hiking pants work good, and I like to wear 
my floppy hat and light wind rain shell around camp or stopping to cook .  I 
hate having a net over my face, but somtimes I'll bring thehead net anyway 
and I just keep the very front rolled up over the brim of my hat thereby 
keeping the side and back of myhead and neck covered.   I'd say on average 
the bugs willbe getting ornery the Devil's postpile area.  If you are 
packing reasonably light and keep moving it can be nice, but sooner or later 
you'll have to stop, and they'll be waiting somewhere.  I just use deet when 
it gets really bad as the skeets love me, and it can ruin my trip, so I move 
as much as possible through the problem areas when I can and try only to use 
the bug juice when I have to stop for a break and eat etc...
A few bites don't bother me, it's when I start getting bit in the face a 
lot,ears, and on my hands. I got bit on the eye lid in Lassen and could not 
see out of it or open it it was so puffed up.  So at least get something to 
cover your head or face when sleeping.  And you want it raised up a little 
so you don't get bit through the net.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eric Lee" <saintgimp at hotmail.com>
To: "'Matt'" <llipschutz at gmail.com>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2009 9:51 PM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Mosquitos- How bad are they really on the PCT?


> Matt wrote:
>>
> I've camped/hiked/climbed/etc a fair amount in New England, and I was just
> wondering: How bad are the mozzies on the northern (OR/WA) sections of the
> PCT?
>>
>
> It depends on how the weather and the snow melt goes each year, of course.
> The usual rule of thumb is that mosquito season runs from late June to 
> late
> July or early August.  Most "normal" thru-hikers will be doing Oregon in
> August and Washington in September, and they usually miss most of the bug
> season in those states.  However, above-average snowfall or a late melt
> could significantly extend the mosquito season - last year was horrible 
> with
> serious bug issues all the way through the end of August.  And obviously 
> if
> you're a fast hiker you could easily wind up in Oregon before bug season
> ends even in a normal year.
>
> I guess "bad" depends on what you're used to, but last year on my Oregon
> section hike the week before Labor Day I walked through some areas that 
> were
> bug-free and others where if I stopped for even a minute I would have
> several dozen bugs on me.  It's not Alaska bad but it's no fun.
> Fortunately, I normally wear long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and I had a
> good headnet, so I did ok.
>
> You'll probably want to carry a headnet at a minimum.  Some kind of bug
> shelter like what's been discussed recently is worth its weight in gold if
> the bugs are bad.  In the past I've carried a homemade tarptent with 
> netting
> that hangs down around the edges.  I set it up, crawl inside, and spend a
> few minutes squishing all the mosquitoes that snuck in with me.  Next year
> I'm thinking about trying a regular tarp and separate bug shelter, but
> haven't decided yet.
>
> Eric
>
>
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