As we prepare for our back country excursions this is the time of year to pack some of the most important items, mosquito control and prevention items! I carry at least a head netting and a good DEET formula. I have tried may and have found for me that the 3M Ultrathon works best.

Below I found this article from an unknown source about mosquito preparedness. I hope it helps you in the backcountry and see you on the trail, Peter

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Mosquito control for severe conditions

Encountering and suffering from mosquitoes seems to be part of the Sierra experience, especially in early summer. Severe conditions can range from the annoying, to producing actual danger from skin infections resulting either from the bites themselves, or from secondary scratching. Under the worst conditions, people can experience thousands of bites, and the incessant buzzing can make grown people cry.

Each year, those highly experienced on the trails encounter numerous people who are learning, the hard way, that many things touted for mosquito control do not work for most people.

Comparison of various repellents:

http://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/IPM/Landscape/F2/InsectRepellents.htm

Beyond any question or debate, DEET (N,N-Diethyltoluamide) is the best product available to place on the skin that consistently works well. Frequently heard is concern that DEET may be a toxic chemical, but this is far from true. DEET is one of the most-used chemicals in the world, and it has been among the most-tested chemicals that exists. WHEN USED AS DIRECTED, it is very safe. The very rare situations in which side effects have occurred, it has been when the directions were NOT followed, such as immersing a child in it. Picardin and Oil of Eucalyptis are other options, although they are not as strong, don’t last as long, and are not studied anywhere near as much.

A newer product for mosquito protection, is permethrin, a product that has been used for the treatment of lice for decades. In it’s mosquito usage, it is applied ONLY to clothing and allowed to dry. It works best when the material is saturated. Unlike DEET, which is only a repellent and does no harm to the insect, permethrin BOTH repels mosquitoes and also kills them!! It will remain active through at least 5 washings, or several months. There have been virtually no reactions reported worldwide after decades of use. Ths standard use for lice is to coat a child in permethrin, at ten times the clothing dose, for 8 hours. This is so safe, it is over the counter treatment.

The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as the World Health Organization both recommend the use of BOTH permethrin and DEET for maximal protection, especially in regions where mosquito disease transmission exists.

Those who have used the combination in bad mosquito areas find the combination remarkable at keeping the bugs at bay. Additionally, the permethrin eliminates biting through treated clothing.

For those who are afflicted by these insects, this represents a major step forward.

This 10 Essentials List was found on the PCT-L. I like the way it is formatted. I have slightly modified it…

NAVIGATION – map, compass, (know how to use them), the route description, GPS

NUTRITION – Food for each day plus one – (be able to return with some food)

ILLUMINATION – Headlamp with fresh batteries

HYDRATION – Water bottles (full) plus extra, or water treatment system, or a purifying filter

IGNITION – Matches, lighter, fire starter, or stove w/full fuel bottle/canister

RADIATION – Sun protection hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm

INSULATION – Base layer (wicking), insulation layer, rain gear or soft-shell outerwear

MEDICATION – First aid kit w/ fresh supplies, instructions, and the knowledge to use them; your own daily medication

PROTECTION – Shelter, space blanket, or sil-tarp can provide immediate sun or rain protection for yourself or accident victims

STABILIZATION – Trekking poles to use for third leg, mono-pod, shelter pole, cougar and bear defense, poison oak deflector, general poking and irritating of small creatures

RECREATION – Mobile phone device, Emergency booklets, signal whistle, signal mirror, knife, multi-tool, cord

This is a trip that I have done a few times and really enjoy it as an annual spring trip. I posted this trip on the outdoorclub.org site and 5 people joined Deb and I for this camp out. Deb and I went to Ridgecrest on Friday April 11th and poked around different museums and went site seeing. The high light had to be the venture to the ghost town of Randsburg, where we meet Cowboy Bob, more to come on that! Anyway, we stayed at the Marriott SpringHill Suites and is brand new and very nice. We enjoyed and hour in the late afternoon by the pool, so nice! That evening we meet up with Victoria, Maria, and David for dinner, drink, and a game or two of pool. Just a warning to any, Victoria is a pool shark!
Next morning we all meet in the parking lot of the Marriott, Paige, Nancy and her dog Bogart also joined for the caravan out to the Pinacles. The drive from Ridgecrest is maybe 20 minutes to the turn off to go out onto the desert lake bed and the pinnacles area. This took maybe another 20 minutes due to dirt/gravel road conditions. The day was a beautiful day, blue skies and a little hazy. With the lack of any shade, it was warm and going to get to the mid 80’s by mid-day. We found the perfect campsite in a ring of pinnacles with view to the desert floor. After camp and tents were set up, we took it easy and sat around an chatted. Later in the day we went hiking and scrambling on pinnacles of all sorts up and down the chain of pinnacles. A little information on the formation of the pinnacles can be found on the BLM website. In the afternoon we found some nice shade under one of the Pinnacles above our campsite and had some good camaraderie, food, and drink. Later in the day, Deb and I went out mountain biking. Deb had not been on a bike in a while and had a great time, I on the other hand wiped out twice and skinned up my arms pretty good! That evening we had a great pot luck dinner with everyone sharing there good food.
Next day I set up a top rope on a Pinnacle above the campsite and all enjoyed climbing on a 60+ ft wall. The Pinnacles have some very sharp edges, all got a few climbing scraps, but were very proud of them! We broke camp and said our good byes and started the trip back to SoCal. In typical fashion, Deb and I took the round about way to get home driving through the Sequoia National Park, by Lake Isabella Lake. We also stopped at the PCT crossing over Walker Pass and then continued down through Red Rock Canyon State Park. Finally we headed for Murrieta for another fine trip completion.