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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>The umbrella trick would scare my horses
out of their wits beyond any doubt . . . so be careful when opening yours near
any pack animals. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>About gnats . . . I heard that they are
attracted to the shine on the lenses of sunglasses. I tried removing
mine, and it really seemed to work – fewer bothered me without the
sunglasses on.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'>L-Rod<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 color=navy face=Arial><span style='font-size:
10.0pt;font-family:Arial;color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><b><font size=2 face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Tahoma;font-weight:bold'>From:</span></font></b><font size=2
face=Tahoma><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:Tahoma'>
pct-l-bounces@backcountry.net [mailto:pct-l-bounces@backcountry.net] <b><span
style='font-weight:bold'>On Behalf Of </span></b>Bob<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Sent:</span></b> Thursday, January 24, 2008
8:49 AM<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>To:</span></b> Pct-L<br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Subject:</span></b> [pct-l] umbrellas and
Gnats!</span></font><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman"'><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>I
hate GNATS! In the eyes… inhaled… Grrr!<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>“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></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><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></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>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 <st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Michigan</st1:place></st1:State>
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></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'>Dr
Bob<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Calibri><span style='font-size:11.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
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