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.

I have read many articles and emails about trekking poles or hiking poles. This is not going to be a pro/con article on why or why not you should use them. There are many articles related to the benefit of poles from a physical aspect. There are just as many articles about the types of poles to use and how to use them. This is just going to be my narrative on moving from no poles to poles.

I have been hiking, backpacking and trekking some 35+ years without trekking poles. I am a downhill and nordic skier for that same amount of time and have used poles. It was not until last year did I resort to using poles while out on a 4 day backpacking trip. By the third day my knees were starting to get stiff and give me a little bit of pain. Debbie my partner has been using poles for some time now, she said I should give her poles a try, I declined.

When I am backpacking, I always consider every item that I wear or carry for functionality and weight. My biggest protest against the use of poles was the weight. Even the lightest pole out there are around one pound, and this to me, was excessive.

Anyway, back to my story. By the third day we had a long downhill that was to last almost the entire day. By mid-morning my knees were screaming. I even was having thoughts that I may not be able to continue. Out came the ibuprofen and I was able to continue but was starting to lag behind the group. I was at a point where I had to try something.

I broke down and asked Debbie if I could use her poles. This was a changing moment. I will have to say that it did not take all the pain away, but I was able to continue and keep up with the group, in fact, I led the last section as we headed to the trail head.

Since that time, I bought some poles and I use them. It has change the way I hike. I especially love the assistance they give me on the downhills, but have found they give me a rhythm on the flats kind of like nordic skiing and I really fell in tune. On the uphills, I shorten them up a bit and get my arms involved in the climb. I feel they really get my whole body into the act.

I could go on about the benefits for me, but this is something that every individual will have to try out for themselves. My suggestion is to give them a try on your next multiday trek to really give them a full testing. Remember you do not have to use them every step of the way. There are situations when I collapse them and strap them to the back of the pack. But for the most part, I have them out and they are part of me…

See you on the trail, Peter

The outer surface of most laminated waterproof-breathable fabrics are treated with a durable water-repellent coating (DWR). This chemical treatment forces water to bead up and roll off the surface of the fabric.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO CLEAN YOUR GARMENTS REGULARLY
DWR coatings do not work when pores become clogged with dirt, or salt from your body’s sweat. Regular cleaning is important to maintain the performance of your garment.
HOW TO CLEAN DWR COATED GARMENTS
STEP I: Machine wash your garments using the machine’s complete wash cycle. Make sure to use an additive-free detergent or soap. DO NOT USE ANY DETERGENTS THAT CONTAIN FABRIC SOFTENERS. Fabric Softeners interfer with the effectiveness of the DWR coating. The following cleaners are recommended because these products rinse out well:
Elimitrax® Sportwash®
Grangers® G-Line Cleaners for Outterwear
Nikwax® Tech Wash
McNett® Revivex® Synthetic Fabric Cleaner
Blue Magic® Tectron®
STEP 2: Repeat the rinse cycle once or twice to ensure all soapy residue is removed.
STEP 3: Dry on a medium-hot setting, and let the garment cycle for 15 minutes after it’s dry to revive the original DWR finish. If you have an iron with a cool synthetic setting, you can lightly iron the garment to perk up the DWR treatment.
COATINGS ARE NOT PERMANENT AND WILL WEAR OFF
When a garment begins to “wet-out”, the face of the fabric is absorbing water. It is time to restore the DWR coating.

The image on the left shows fabric which is absorbing water because the DWR coating has worn off. The image on the right shows fabric that has been restored. The DWR coating forces water to bead up and roll off the fabric.
HOW TO RESTORE THE DWR COATING
STEP I: Wash the garment with an additive-free detergent or soap and apply a DWR treatment. The following treatments are recommended:
Grangers® G-Line Waterproofing for Outterwear
Nikwax® TX-Direct
McNett® Revivex® Water Repellent.
Blue Magic® Tectron®
STEP 2: While the garment is still wet, saturate the outside with the spray-on product and follow the manufacturer’s directions. If you’re using a wash-in product, follow the manufacturer’s directions.
STEP 3: Dry at medium-hot setting.
NOTE: Clean any surface in your home that may have come into contact with the treatment. Run your washing machine through a complete cycle while it is empty to remove any residue.

Technical Fabric Library