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<p class=MsoNormal>I hate GNATS! In the eyes… inhaled…
Grrr!<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>This morning, stumbling upon an equipment review by Leonard
and Laurie Adkins after their recent AT thru-hike, I was intrigued to see a
reference to umbrellas and gnats. Hadn’t thought of that
connection. FWIW, here it is:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>“Bug off: The umbrellas kept gnats from flying into
our eyes during rest breaks. They also provided relief from the sun.”
From: <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><a
href="http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:TYL5ILfnDvsJ:habitualhiker.com/newsletter503253.htm+Bill+Gurwell&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=11&gl=us">http://64.233.169.104/search?q=cache:TYL5ILfnDvsJ:habitualhiker.com/newsletter503253.htm+Bill+Gurwell&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=11&gl=us</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Folk legend has it that Indians, with a tall feather
sticking up, kept gnats circling higher than their face. I have tried sticking
a small evergreen branch up from my hat and it seemed to help a bit. Might
an umbrella, in bad gnat situations, do an even better job? Anyone
have any experience along these lines?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Let’s see… 1) sun shade, 2) rain, 3) propped as additional
windbreak for stove, now possibly 4) gnats. What else? Ah,
yes. 5) Bear deterrent! I read a story in a (questionable) survival
book years ago about a man in the Michigan woods who had a black bear charge
him. He had nothing but a closed umbrella with him, but at the last
second he snapped his umbrella open in the bear’s face and it took off, startled.
I don’t want to try it, but you can. Please let me know how it
works.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal>Dr Bob<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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